The present invention relates to electrochromic mirrors and devices whose electrochromic element is composed of an electrochromic solid film and an electrolyte comprising redox reaction promoters and alkali ions and/or protons.

Images(9)

Claims(38)

What we claim is:

1. An electrochromic rearview mirror for a motor vehicle comprising:

(a) a substantially transparent substrate with a substantially transparent conductive electrode coating on its inward surface;

(b) a substrate with a conductive electrode coating on its inward surface, said substrate positioned in spaced-apart relationship with said substrate of (a);

(c) a layer of reflective material coated onto a surface of said substrate of (b);

(d) an electrochromic solid film coated onto said substantially transparent conductive electrode coating of (a) or onto said conductive electrode coating of (b);

(e) a sealing means positioned toward a peripheral edge of each of said substrate of (a) and said substrate of (b) and sealingly forming a cavity therebetween;

(f) an electrolyte comprising redox reaction promoters, wherein said redox reaction promoters comprise a metallocene in combination with a phenothiazine, and wherein said electrolyte is located within said cavity to form an electrochromic element; and

(g) a means for introducing an applied potential to said electrochromic element to controllably cause a variation in the amount of light reflected from said mirror.

2. The electrochromic mirror according to claim 1, wherein said layer of reflective material is silver.

3. The electrochromic mirror according to claim 1, wherein said electrochromic solid film is an inorganic transition metal oxide.

4. The electrochromic mirror according to claim 3, wherein said electrochromic solid film is tungsten oxide.

(b) a substrate positioned in spaced-apart relationship with said substrate of (a);

(c) a layer of reflective material coated onto the inward surface of said substrate of (b) or onto a thin film or stack of thin films coated onto the inward surface of said substrate of (b);

(d) an electrochromic solid film coated onto said layer of reflective material of (c);

(e) a sealing means positioned toward the peripheral edge of each of said substrate of (a) and said substrate of (b) and sealingly forming a cavity therebetween;

(f) an electrolyte comprising a redox reaction promoter, wherein said electrolyte is located within said cavity to form an electrochromic element; and

(g) a means for introducing an applied potential to said electrochromic element to controllably cause a variation in the amount of light reflected from said mirror.

9. The electrochromic mirror according to claim 8, further comprising an adhesion promoter coated between said layer of reflective material of (c) and

(i) the inward surface of said substrate of (b) or

(ii) the thin film or stack of thin films coated on the inward surface of said substrate of (b).

10. The electrochromic mirror according to claim 9, wherein said adhesion promoter is selected from the group consisting of a metal, a metal oxide and a conducting metal oxide.

11. The electrochromic mirror according to claim 10, wherein said metal is selected from the group consisting of chromium, stainless steel, nickel-based alloys, titanium, monel, nichrome and molybdenum.

12. The electrochromic mirror according to claim 10, wherein said metal oxide is selected from the group consisting of silver oxide, aluminum oxide and chromium oxide.

wherein said electrolyte is located within said cavity to form an electrochromic element; and

(g) a means for introducing an applied potential to said electrochromic element to controllably cause a variation in the amount of light reflected from said mirror.

21. An electrochromic rearview mirror for a motor vehicle comprising:

(a) a substantially transparent substrate with a substantially transparent conductive electrode coating on its inward surface;

(b) a substrate positioned in spaced-apart relationship with said substrate of (a);

(c) an adhesion promoter coated onto the inward surface of said substrate of (b);

(d) a layer of reflective material coated over said adhesion promoter of (c);

(e) an electrochromic solid film coated onto said layer of reflective material of (d);

(f) a sealing means positioned toward, but inward from, a peripheral edge of each of said substrate of (a) and said substrate of (b) and sealingly forming a cavity therebetween;

(g) an electrolyte comprising:

(1) a redox reaction promoter,

(2) an ultraviolet stabilizing agent and

(3) an organic solvent,

wherein said electrolyte has been dispensed into and is confined within said cavity to form an electrochromic element; and

(h) a means for introducing an applied potential to said electrochromic element to controllably cause a variation in the amount of light reflected from said mirror.

22. An electrochromic rearview mirror for a motor vehicle comprising:

(a) a substantially transparent substrate with a substantially transparent conductive electrode coating on its inward surface;

(b) a substrate positioned in spaced-apart relationship with said substrate of (a);

(c) a layer of reflective material coated onto the inward surface of said substrate of (b) or onto a thin film or stack of thin films coated onto the inward surface of said substrate of (b);

(d) an electrochromic solid film coated onto said layer of reflective material of (c);

(e) a sealing means positioned toward a peripheral edge of each of said substrate of (a) and said substrate of (b) and sealingly forming a cavity therebetween;

(f) an electrolyte comprising:

(1) a redox reaction promoter,

(2) an ultraviolet stabilizing agent, and

(3) an organic solvent,

wherein said electrolyte is located within said cavity to form an electrochromic element; and

(g) a means for introducing an applied potential to said electrochromic element to controllably cause a variation in the amount of light reflected from said mirror.

23. An electrochromic rearview mirror for a motor vehicle comprising:

(a) a substantially transparent substrate with a substantially transparent conductive electrode coating on its inward surface;

(b) a substrate positioned in spaced-apart relationship with said substrate of (a);

(c) an adhesion promoter coated onto the inward surface of said substrate of (b);

(d) a layer of reflective material coated over said adhesion promoter of (c);

(e) a sealing means positioned toward, but inward from, a peripheral edge of each of said substrate of (a) and said substrate of (b) and sealingly forming a cavity therebetween;

(f) an electrochromic medium positioned between said substrate of (a) and said substrate of (b); and

(g) a means for introducing an applied potential to said electrochromic medium to controllably cause a variation in the amount of light reflected from said mirror.

24. The electrochromic mirror according to claim 23, wherein said adhesion promoter is selected from the group consisting of a metal, a metal oxide and a conducting metal oxide.

25. The electrochromic mirror according to claim 24, wherein said metal is selected from the group consisting of chromium, stainless steel, nickel-based alloys, titanium, monel, nichrome and molybdenum.

26. The electrochromic mirror according to claim 24, wherein said metal oxide is selected from the group consisting of silver oxide, aluminum oxide and chromium oxide.

30. The electrochromic mirror according to claim 29, wherein said electrochromic solid film is an inorganic transition metal oxide.

31. The electrochromic mirror according to claim 30, wherein said electrochromic solid film is tungsten oxide.

32. The electrochromic mirror according to claim 23, further comprising an electrolyte comprising redox reaction promoters, and wherein said electrolyte has been dispensed into and is confined within said cavity.

33. The electrochromic mirror according to claim 32, wherein said redox reaction promoters comprise a metallocene in combination with a phenothiazine.

Prior to the introduction of electro-optic mirrors into the automotive marketplace, prismatic rearview mirrors were available to drivers of motor vehicles to determine the whereabouts of neighboring motor vehicles to their rearward surroundings. By using a manual lever located on such mirrors, a driver of a motor vehicle, especially at dusk or later, would be able to employ a prismatic feature on the mirror to vitiate the effect of headlamp glare (the principal source of incoming electromagnetic radiation from the rear of the motor vehicle) from the low beam, and especially high beam, lighting elements of other motor vehicles travelling posterior thereto. Should the lever be flipped to the nighttime position, the driver would be able to view an image in a reflection from a glass-to-air interface on the first surface of the mirror. The light reflected from this first surface would exhibit non-spectral selectivity. That is, the background of any image viewed in the nighttime position of the prismatic mirror would be a neutral color. Such conventional prismatic mirrors are still used on a majority of motor vehicles in the United States today.

With the advent of electro-optic technology, such as electrochromic technology, it has become possible to achieve continuous variability in reflectivity in rearview mirrors for motor vehicles. This continuous variability has been achieved, for example, through the use of reversibly variable electrochromic devices, wherein the intensity of light (e.g., visible, infrared, ultraviolet or other distinct or overlapping electromagnetic radiation) is modulated by passing the light through an electrochromic medium. In such devices, the electrochromic medium is disposed between two conductive electrodes and undergoes electrochromism when potential differences are applied across the two electrodes.

In single-compartment, self-erasing, solution-phase electrochromic devices, the intensity of the electromagnetic radiation is modulated by passing through a solution of the color-forming species held in a single-compartment. The color-changing reaction occurs only in this solution-phase. That is, there is no solid material present in the devices that has the color-changing reaction in it. During operation of such devices, the solution of the color-forming species is liquid or fluid, although it may be gelled or made highly viscous with a thickening agent, and the components of the solution do not precipitate. See e.g., Byker I and Byker II.

In thin film electrochromic devices, an anodic electrochromic layer and/or a cathodic electrochromic layer, each layer usually made from inorganic metal oxides or polymer films, may be separate and distinct from one another. In contrast to the single-compartment, self-erasing, solution-phase devices referred to supra, these thin film electrochromic devices modulate the intensity of electromagnetic radiation by passing through the individual anodic electrochromic layer and/or cathodic electrochromic layer.

In certain thin film electrochromic devices, a thin film layer of a solid electrochromic material, such as a tungsten oxide-type solid film, may be placed in contact with a liquid electrolyte containing redox promoters, such as ferrocene and iodide, and a solvent. See e.g., Kamimori III. In these electrochromic devices, the intensity of electromagnetic radiation is primarily modulated by passing through the solid electrochromic material. When dimmed to a colored state, these tungsten oxide-type solid films typically dim to a blue-colored state.

Having grown accustomed to conventional prismatic rearview mirrors for motor vehicles, some consumers of motor vehicles may show a preference for rearview mirrors possessing substantial non-spectral selectivity. That is, some consumers may prefer mirrors which present a substantially gray color when dimmed to a colored state; in other words, a mirror that exhibits a viewing background comparable in spectral reflectivity to that of conventional prismatic mirrors.

On another note, the reflective element of the mirror is often constructed from silver and is typically situated on the rearmost surface of the mirror. That is, the reflective element is placed on the surface of a glass substrate farthest from that surface which first comes in contact with incident light. However, such placement has certain disadvantages. For instance, double imaging is a recognized problem in such mirror construction. In addition, in its path to reaching the reflective element of the mirror, incident light must first pass through each of the glass substrates of the mirror assembly. Therefore, in these mirror constructions, to achieve good optical performance, higher quality glass should be used for both substrates. Moreover, these mirror constructions typically require the use of a thin film transparent conductive electrode coating on the inward surface of each substrate in order to apply a potential to the electrochromic element. Requiring each substrate of the mirror to be of such higher quality glass and the use of two such transparent conductive electrodes increases material and production costs. Further, placement of the reflective element on the rearmost surface of the mirror requires an additional manufacturing step, which also increases production costs. And, such placement increases material and production costs due to necessary measures taken to protect the reflective element (typically, a highly reflective material, such as silver or aluminum) against environmental degradation, such as through the use of a paint or the like. Frequently, lead-based paints have been used for this purpose, thereby presenting environmental concerns.

It has been suggested and attempts have been made to place the reflective element of the mirror, such as silver, on the inward facing surface of the rear substrate so as to act as a conductive electrode coating as well as a reflective element. See e.g., Donnelly, Negishi I, Byker I and Byker II. This configuration is plainly attractive since it eliminates the need for a separate transparent conductive coating on the rear substrate, thereby reducing the cost of manufacture.

In order to function in the dual role of reflective element and conductive electrode, a coating must (1) be electrochemically stable so as not to degrade during operation of the device, (2) remain securely adhered to the rear substrate to maintain the integrity of the device, and (3) be highly reflective so that the mirror as a whole will have an acceptable level of reflectance. However, no known mirror construction meets all of these requirements--for example silver, commonly used as the reflective element in conventional mirror constructions, is highly reflective but is not electrochemically stable and is difficult to adhere to the surface of a glass substrate. Other materials, such as rhodium or Inconel, which have been used as a combined reflective element and conducting electrode in prior art mirrors are not sufficiently reflective to provide a highly reflective electrochromic mirror. Perhaps for these reasons, the prior art suggestions and attempts have not resulted in any commercially successful electrochromic mirror in which a single coating is used as both reflective element and conducting electrode.

Electrochromic devices, such as those using a solid film electrochromic material, like tungsten oxide, may also exhibit deleterious performance when exposed to ultraviolet radiation over prolonged periods of time (e.g., conditions typically encountered during outdoor weathering). This deleterious performance may be linked to any of a variety of sources, including a potential propensity for photochromism to occur.

On yet another note, displays, indicia and sensors, such as photosensors, motion sensors, cameras and the like, have heretofore been incorporated into certain electrochromic mirror constructions [see e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,189,537 (O'Farrell) and 5,285,060 (Larson)]. In these constructions, the reflective element of the mirror has been locally removed to create a highly transmissive local window. However, such use of displays and the like positioned behind the reflective element of electrochromic mirrors has been limited. One reason for this limited use is due to diminished rear vision capability in that portion of the reflective element of the mirror which has been removed. Moreover, the displays and the like known to date may be distracting as well as aesthetically non-appealing to the driver and/or passengers of motor vehicles insofar as they may be visible and observable within the mirror mounted in the motor vehicles when in the inactivated state. In addition, the known methods of incorporating such displays and the like into mirrors have been only partially successful, labor intensive and economically unattractive from a manufacturing standpoint.

Further, although it has been suggested to use semi-transparent reflectors in rearview mirrors [see e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,014,167 (Roberts) ("Roberts I") and 5,207,492 (Roberts) ("Roberts II")], previous attempts have included the use of dichroic reflectors which are complex to design and expensive to fabricate. Also, where use of metallic reflectors has been suggested [see e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 4,588,267 (Pastore)], it has been in the context of conventional mirrors such as prismatic mirrors. These suggestions fail to recognize the problems that must be overcome to provide a highly reflecting and partially transmitting electrochromic rearview mirror.

Therefore, the need exists for an electrochromic mirror that provides substantial non-spectral selectivity when dimmed to a colored state, akin to that exhibited by conventional prismatic mirrors when in the nighttime position, along with continuous variability in reflectivity, ease and economy of manufacture and enhanced outdoor weathering resilience. It would also be desirable, particularly in this connection, to have an electrochromic mirror construction that reduces material and manufacturing costs by employing as only one of its substrates a high quality glass as a substrate and also as only one of its electrodes a thin film, substantially transparent conductive electrode coating. In addition, it would be desirable for a mirror to have display-on-demand capability where a display could become activated to be viewed on demand, and where the display is (1) aesthetically appealing and not distracting in its inactivated state, and (2) is manufactured with ease and economy.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention meets the needs expressed above concerning the desirability of a substantially non-spectral selective electrochromic mirror by providing such an electrochromic mirror that exhibits substantially non-spectral selectivity in the form of a substantially neutral or neutral gray appearance when dimmed to a colored state by the introduction of an applied potential. The electrochromic element of this mirror comprises an electrochromic solid film and an electrolyte, which itself comprises redox reaction promoters and alkali ions and/or protons.

Another aspect of the present invention provides a commercially practicable electrochromic mirror having a novel construction. More specifically, this novel mirror construction provides a layer of reflective material coated on the inward surface of the second substrate which also serves as a conductive electrode coating. The layer of reflective material is overcoated with an electrochromic solid film and may also be undercoated to promote its adhesion to the substrate.

This construction employs a higher quality glass for only one of its substrates and employs for only that substrate made from a higher quality glass a conductive electrode coating that is substantially transparent. That is, the construction permits the use of (1) a lower quality glass as the second or rearmost substrate while maintaining good optical performance in the mirror; (2) a higher resistance, and hence more economical, conductive electrode coating for the first or frontmost substrate which is made from a higher quality glass; and (3) only one substantially transparent conductive electrode coating (to be used on the inward surface of the first substrate made from a higher quality glass), which further reduces material costs incurred in the manufacture of such mirrors.

In addition, the layer of reflective material in this novel construction reduces further still the material and production costs associated with such mirrors since it serves the additional role of a conductive electrode coating thereby obviating manufacturing costs associated with a separate substantially transparent conductive electrode coating. Moreover, in this construction, the reflective element of the mirror is located within, and protected by, the sealed cavity which forms the electrochromic element of the mirror. The reflective element of the mirror is thus protected from degradation through environmental exposure without having to resort to the use of protective materials, such as lead-based overcoating paints or the like. The novel construction of this electrochromic mirror also enhances the resistance of the reflective material to physical, chemical and/or electrochemical degradation. Further, the construction so provided also reduces image separation which can lead to the recognized problem of double imaging.

In addition, another aspect of the invention provides an "on demand display" for mirrors, as described hereinafter. The mirror construction referred to supra and described in detail hereinafter, facilitates placement of displays, indicia and sensors and the like behind the mirror element so that they may be viewed as an "on demand display".

As stated supra, the electrochromic mirrors of the present invention exhibit a substantially gray appearance when dimmed to a colored state upon the introduction of an applied potential. The coloring capability of these mirrors determines the extent to which glare may be reflected from the mirrors. As with other electrochromic mirrors, this coloring capability may be continuously varied by controlling the magnitude, duration and polarity of the applied potential introduced thereto. The appearance of the substantially gray color may be appealing to consumer preferences (especially to certain drivers of motor vehicles which employ these mirrors) and to commercial design and manufacture concerns by virtue of its substantial color neutrality relative to the color of the housing, casing, structure, machine, instrument or vehicle with which it is to be used. That is, even when dimmed to a colored state, the electrochromic mirrors of the present invention are often aesthetically complementary to the color of the other component(s) with which they are to be used.

The electrochromic mirrors of the present invention are suitable for use as electrochromic rearview mirrors (e.g., truck mirrors, interior and exterior mirrors for motor vehicles), architectural mirrors or specialty mirrors, like those useful in aeronautical, periscopic or dental and medical applications.

In addition to electrochromic mirrors, electrochromic devices, such as electrochromic glazings (e.g., architectural glazings, like those useful in the home, office or other edifice; aeronautical glazings, such as those which may be useful in aircraft; or vehicular glazings, for instance, windows, like windshields, side windows and backlights, sun roofs, sun visors or shade bands); electrochromic optically attenuating contrast filters, such as contrast enhancement filters, suitable for use in connection with cathode ray tube monitors and the like; electrochromic privacy or security partitions; electrochromic solar panels, such as sky lights; electrochromic information displays; and electrochromic lenses and eye glass, may also benefit from that which is described herein, especially where substantially non-spectral selective coloring is desired.

Thus, the present invention exemplifies an advance in the art that will become readily apparent and more greatly appreciated by a study of the detailed description taken in conjunction with the figures which follow hereinafter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 depicts a spectral scan of percent reflectance versus wavelength in nanometers of an electrochromic mirror according to the present invention when in its bleached state;

FIG. 2 depicts a spectral scan of percent reflectance versus wavelength in nanometers of an electrochromic mirror according to the present invention when dimmed to a neutral colored state;

FIG. 3A depicts a perspective view of an electrochromic mirror--i.e., an interior rearview automobile mirror--according to the present invention;

FIG. 3B depicts a cross-sectional view of the electrochromic mirror of FIG. 3A;

FIG. 4 depicts another cross-sectional view of the electrochromic mirror of FIGS. 3A and 3B;

FIG. 5 depicts a cross-sectional view of another electrochromic mirror construction according to the present invention. In this construction, a secondary weather barrier 12 has been applied to the joint at which sealing means 5 joins substrates 2,3;

FIG. 6 depicts a cross-sectional view of still another electrochromic mirror construction according to the present invention. This mirror construction is similar to the mirror construction of FIG. 5, except that an adhesion promoter 11 is coated between substrate 3 and conductive electrode coating 4';

FIG. 7 depicts a cross-sectional view of yet another electrochromic mirror construction according to the present invention;

FIG. 8 depicts a perspective view of an electrochromic mirror constructed with an on demand display;

FIG. 9 depicts a cross-sectional view of an electrochromic mirror constructed with an on demand display using a glass cover sheet over the display window in the mirror construction;

FIG. 10 depicts a cross-sectional view of another electrochromic mirror constructed with an on demand display;

FIGS. 11A, 11B and 11C depict the orientation of the substrates in different constructions of the electrochromic mirrors and electrochromic devices of the present invention. FIG. 11A depicts a perpendicular displacement of the first substrate and the second substrate. FIG. 11B depicts a lateral displacement and a perpendicular displacement of the first substrate and the second substrate. FIG. 11C depicts an arrangement of the first substrate and the second substrate, wherein the dimensions of the length and width of the first substrate are slightly greater than those of the second substrate. In this arrangement, the peripheral edge of the first substrate extends beyond the peripheral edge of the second substrate;

FIG. 12 depicts a perspective view of an electrochromic mirror constructed with turn signal indicia; and

FIG. 13 depicts a perspective view of a multi-radius electrochromic mirror according to the present invention.

The depictions in these figures are for illustrative purposes only and are not drawn to scale. Unless otherwise indicated, in the following detailed description of the invention the element numbers discussed are descriptive of like elements of all figures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the teaching of the present invention, there are provided electrochromic mirrors, such as electrochromic rearview mirrors for a motor vehicle. These mirrors are constructed from a first substantially transparent substrate with a substantially transparent conductive electrode coating on its inward surface and a second substrate, which may or may not be substantially transparent, with a conductive electrode coating, which also may or may not be substantially transparent, on its inward surface. Whether the second substrate and the conductive electrode coating thereon are or are not substantially transparent will depend on the particular construction of the mirror.

The first substrate and second substrate may be positioned in spaced-apart relationship with one another, being substantially parallel or substantially tangentially parallel depending upon whether the substrates are flat or bent. These substrates may also be laterally displaced from, or in a substantially flush relationship with, one another. The substrates may also have respective dimensions such that one of the substrates is sized and shaped to have a slightly greater length and width than the other substrate. Thus, when the substrates are positioned in central alignment with one another, the peripheral edges of the slightly larger substrate extend beyond the peripheral edges of the slightly smaller substrate.

The mirrors have a layer of reflective material coated either onto (a) the rearmost (non-inward) surface of the second substrate, where it serves a single role as a reflective element of the mirror or (b) the inward surface of the second substrate, where it serves a dual role as a conductive electrode coating and a reflective element of the mirror.

In these mirrors, an electrochromic solid film is coated either onto (a) the transparent conductive electrode coating of the first substrate, (b) the layer of reflective material when acting as a conductive electrode coating on the inward surface of the second substrate or (c) the substantially transparent conductive electrode coating on the inward surface of the second substrate, when the layer of reflective material is placed on the rearmost (non-inward) surface of the second substrate.

A sealing means is positioned toward the peripheral edge of each of the first substrate and the second substrate to form a cavity, in which is located, either in a liquid-phase or a solid-phase, an electrolyte comprising redox reaction promoters and alkali ions and/or protons. In the cavity, the electrolyte is in contact with the electrochromic solid film (which itself is in contact with a conductive electrode coating on the inward surface of one of either the first substrate or second substrate) and a conductive electrode coating (on the inward surface of the other of the first substrate or second substrate) to form an electrochromic element.

Finally, a means for introducing an applied potential to the electrochromic element is also provided to controllably vary the amount of light reflected from the mirror.

Decreased light transmissivity in the electrochromic devices of the present invention (and reflectivity in the electrochromic mirrors) is primarily provided by the color-forming reaction that occurs in the electrochromic solid film. This electrochromic solid film may be a thin film layer of an inorganic transition metal oxide. Stoichiometric and substoichiometric forms of transition metal oxides, such as Group IV-B, V-B or VI-B oxides like tungsten oxide, molybdenum oxide, niobium oxide, vanadium oxide, titanium dioxide and combinations thereof, may be used. Other conventional inorganic transition metal oxides, such as those recited in Kamimori III, may also be employed. Preferably, however, tungsten oxide or doped tungsten oxide, with suitable dopants including molybdenum, rhenium, tin, rhodium and the like, may be used as the electrochromic solid film. A beneficial effect of the addition of the dopant may be to move the spectral absorption edge of the doped tungsten oxide coating farther into the visible range of the electromagnetic spectrum.

Where doped tungsten oxide is used, the dopant should be present in a concentration within the range of from about 0.1% (by mole) to about 20% (by mole) or even greater. Preferred doped tungsten oxides include those where a molybdenum dopant is used within the range of about 0.5% (by mole) to about 10% (by mole).

The electrochromic solid film may be a stack of thin films, such as a layer of tungsten oxide overcoated and/or undercoated with a thin film like silicon dioxide, titanium dioxide, tantalum pentoxide or cerium oxide. Such overcoats and/or undercoats may help promote enhanced adhesion of the tungsten oxide electrochromic solid film to its substrate and/or passivate it from the electrolyte which it contacts in the electrochromic element.

The thickness of the electrochromic solid film may be within the range of from about 0.05 μm to about 1.0 μm or greater, with about 0.25 μm to about 0.75 μm being preferred, and about 0.3 μm to about 0.6 μm being more preferred.

The electrochromic solid film may have a microstructure that is amorphous, crystalline, polycrystalline or combinations thereof. In electrochromic devices where the occurrence of photochromism is a concern, it may be desirable for the electrochromic solid film to possess a microstructure that is at least partially crystalline. Such a crystalline microstructure is believed to minimize the photochromic effect, which may be deleterious to the operation of the electrochromic devices. It may also be desirable for the electrochromic solid film to possess a microstructure that is porous. In this connection, it may be desirable for the electrochromic solid film, such as tungsten oxide or doped tungsten oxide, to have a density of less than about 90%, preferably less than about 80%, of the density of the bulk oxide.

The electrolyte useful in the electrochromic element of the electrochromic mirrors of the present invention should comprise redox reaction promoters, and alkali ions and/or protons. The electrolyte may be in a liquid-phase or in a solid-phase.

The redox reaction promoters of the electrolyte comprise two individual species, a metallocene and a phenothiazine, used in combination.

The metallocenes suitable for use as a redox reaction promoter in the present invention are represented by the following structure: ##STR1## wherein R and R1 may be the same or different, and each may be selected from the group consisting of H; any straight- or branched-chain alkyl constituent having from about 1 carbon atom to about 8 carbon atoms, such as CH3, CH2 CH3, CH2 CH2 CH3, CH(CH3)2, C(CH3)3 and the like; acetyl; vinyl; allyl; hydroxyl; carboxyl; --(CH2)n --OH, wherein n may be an integer in the range of 1 to about 8; --(CH2)n --COOR2, wherein n may be an integer in the range of 1 to about 8 and R2 may be any straight- or branched-chain alkyl constituent having from about 1 carbon atom to about 8 carbon atoms, hydrogen, lithium, sodium, ##STR2## wherein n' may be an integer in the range of 2 to about 8, or ##STR3## wherein n' may be an integer in the range of 2 to about 8; --(CH2)n --OR3, wherein n may be an integer in the range of 1 to about 8 and R3 may be any straight- or branched-chain alkyl constituent having from about 1 carbon atom to about 8 carbon atoms, ##STR4## or --(CH2)n --N+ (CH3)3 X-, wherein n may be an integer in the range of 1 to about 8 and X may be Cl-, Br-, I-, ClO4- or BF4- ; and Me is Fe, Ni, Ru, Co, Ti, Cr and the like.

The phenothiazines suitable for use as a redox reaction promoter in the present invention include, but are not limited to, those represented by the following structure: ##STR5## wherein R4 may be selected from the group consisting of H; any straight- or branched-chain alkyl constituent having from about 1 carbon atom to about 10 carbon atoms; phenyl; benzyl; --(CH2)2 --CN; --(CH2)2 --COOH; ##STR6## wherein n' may be an integer in the range of 2 to about 8; ##STR7## wherein R2 may be any straight- or branched-chain alkyl constituent having from about 1 carbon atom to about 8 carbon atoms; and R5, R6, R7, R8, R9, R10 and R11 may be selected from H, Cl, Br, CF3, CH3, NO2, COOH, SCH3 or OCH3.

Preferred among phenothiazines II is phenothiazine III as depicted in the following structure: ##STR8##

Combinations of redox reaction promoters may be selectively chosen to achieve a desired substantially non-spectral selectivity when the electrochromic element (and the mirror in which the electrochromic element is to function) is dimmed to a colored state.

The redox reaction promoters may be present in the electrolyte in a total concentration of about 0.005M to about 0.5M, with a total concentration of about 0.02M to about 0.1M being preferred. The ratio of this combination (i.e., total metallocene to total phenothiazine) should be within the range of about 1:1 to about 1:10, with a preferred combination of redox reaction promoters being ferrocene and phenothiazine (III) in about a 1:2 (by mole) to about a 1:4 (by mole) ratio and, more preferably, having a total concentration of about 0.07M to about 0.09M.

A source of alkali ions may also be included in the electrolyte. Suitable sources of alkali ions are lithium salts, such as lithium perchlorate ("LiClO4 "), lithium tetrafluoroborate ("LiBF4 "), lithium iodide ("LI"), lithium hexafluorophosphate ("LiPF6 "), lithium hexafluoroarsenate ("LiAsF6 "), lithium styrylsulfonate ("LiSS"), lithium triflate ("LiCF3 SO3 "), lithium methacrylate, lithium halides other than LI, such as lithium chloride ("LiCl"), lithium bromide ("LiBr") and the like, lithium trifluoroacetate ("CF3 COOLi") and combinations thereof. Of these, LiClO4 or combinations of LiClO4 and LiBF4 are preferred. These sources of alkali ions may be present in the electrolyte in a concentration of about 0.01M to about 1.0M, with a concentration of about 0.05M to about 0.1M being preferred.

A source of protons may also be included in the electrolyte, by, for example, incorporating into the electrolyte water [for example, in a concentration of less than about 5% (v/v), preferably in a concentration within the range of about 0.5% (v/v) to about 2% (v/v)], or by incorporating into the electrolyte organic acids, inorganic acids or other protonic sources suitable for use in conjunction with organic solvents as are known in the art.

The electrolyte itself may be in a liquid-phase or a solid-phase, however, where the electrolyte is in a liquid-phase, a suitable solvent for use in the electrolyte may solubilize the redox reaction promoters and alkali ions (and other optional components such as ultraviolet stabilizing agents which absorb and/or screen ultraviolet radiation) while remaining substantially inert thereto (as well as to any other optional components in the electrolyte). Any material that remains in its liquid form over the range of temperatures to which the devices manufactured with the electrolytes of the present invention will likely be subjected is suitable for use as a solvent in a liquid-phase electrolyte [for a non-exhaustive recitation of such solvents, see e.g., Varaprasad I and Varaprasad III]. Practically speaking, the solvent may be an organic solvent, preferably a substantially non-aqueous organic solvent, which is stable to electrolysis and other phenomena likely to be encountered during the practice of this invention.

Where the electrolyte of the present invention is desirably a solid-phase electrolyte, a formulation of starting components may be in situ transformed such as by polymerization reaction through, for instance, exposure to ultraviolet radiation or application of thermal energy, to produce a solid electrolyte. In the context of ultraviolet radiation activated polymerization, ultraviolet polymerizable components [such as those taught by and described in commonly assigned co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. Nos. 08/023,675, filed Feb. 26, 1993 ("the '675 application") and 08/193,557, filed Feb. 8, 1994 ("the '557 application")] may be used to transform into a solid-phase electrolyte when exposed to ultraviolet radiation.

Other components may also be added to the electrolyte, with such components preferably being in solution in liquid-phase electrolytes. These components may include, but are not limited to, ultraviolet stabilizing agents, infrared radiation reducing agents, color tinting agents (e.g., dyes or colorants) and combinations thereof. Suitable ultraviolet stabilizing agents and color tinting agents are recited in Lynam III, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference. For example, a blue-colored dye of the phthalocyanine-type, such as "NEOPEN" 808 (commercially available from BASF Corp., Parsippany, N.J.), may be added to the electrolyte as a color tinting agent.

Because many redox reaction promoters show a substantial absorbance in the ultraviolet region of the electromagnetic spectrum from about 250 nm to about 350 nm and the electrochromic solid film itself may be deleteriously affected by exposure to ultraviolet radiation, it is often desirable to shield the redox reaction promoters and electrochromic solid film from ultraviolet radiation. Thus, by introducing an ultraviolet stabilizing agent to the electrolyte, or using a solvent which itself acts to absorb ultraviolet radiation, the lifetime of the electrochromic device may be extended. It may be particularly advantageous to include ultraviolet stabilizing agents in the electrolyte for electrochromic mirrors and electrochromic devices whose intended use may result in exposure to outdoor weathering conditions, such as that encountered by the exterior of a motor vehicle.

In addition, ultraviolet absorbing interlayers may be coated onto, or adhered to, the first substrate and/or second substrate, particularly the first substrate, to assist in shielding the electrochromic element from the degradative effect of ultraviolet radiation. Suitable ultraviolet absorbing interlayers include those recited in Lynam III.

Moreover, to assist in extending the lifetime of the electrochromic device, the electrochromic solid film may be placed onto the inward surface of the second substrate--i.e., coated onto either the reflective element or the substantially transparent conductive electrode coating depending on the particular construction. Location of the electrochromic solid film on the inward surface of the second substrate may be desirable where an electrochromic rearview mirror suitable for use on the exterior of a motor vehicle is intended to be exposed to outdoor weathering, including exposure to ultraviolet radiation.

It may also be desirable to employ ultraviolet absorbing glass or laminates thereof for the first substrate or for the second substrate in an electrochromic mirror, particularly for the first substrate, or for the first substrate and/or the second substrate in an electrochromic device. Suitable ultraviolet absorbing glass include that which is recited in Lynam IV. In addition, it may be desirable to employ tin oxide, doped tin oxide, zinc oxide or doped zinc oxide as a substantially transparent conductive electrode coating on the inward surface of the first substrate, ultraviolet stabilizing agents in the electrolyte, ultraviolet absorbing interlayers, ultraviolet absorbing glass and combinations thereof in conjunction with positioning the electrochromic solid film on the inward surface of the second substrate. Such constructions, particularly with additional ultraviolet stabilizing agents included in the electrolyte as described supra, facilitate screening and/or absorption of ultraviolet radiation by the components used in the electrochromic mirror or electrochromic device, including the first substrate, the conductive electrode coating thereon, and the electrolyte and its components that are positioned effectively in front of the potentially ultraviolet sensitive electrochromic solid film.

Addition of ultraviolet stabilizing agents may be particularly advantageous when the electrochromic solid film 7 is coated onto conductive electrode 4' on the inward surface of substrate 3. (See FIG. 5.) In this construction, the ultraviolet stabilizing agents may act to screen and/or absorb incident ultraviolet radiation before it reaches the electrochromic solid film 7. By so doing, the chance of irradiating the potentially photochromic or otherwise ultraviolet radiation vulnerable electrochromic solid film 7 may be reduced or even substantially eliminated. In contrast, when coated onto substantially transparent conductive electrode 4 on the inward surface of substrate 2 (see FIG. 4), the electrochromic solid film 7 may be directly irradiated by any incident ultraviolet light that passes through substrate 2. The ultraviolet screening and/or absorbing affect of the electrolyte, which in this construction is now positioned behind the electrochromic solid film 7, has less of an opportunity to shield the electrochromic solid film 7 from incident ultraviolet light (although the electrolyte may effectively absorb any ultraviolet light which is reflected from the reflective element on substrate 3).

Those of ordinary skill in the art may make appropriate choices among the various materials available as described herein for the substrates, coatings, electrochromic solid films and electrolyte components --e.g., redox reaction promoters, sources of alkali ions and/or protons, solvents, and other components to prepare electrochromic mirrors and electrochromic devices capable of generating a substantially non-spectral selective gray color suitable for the desired application. In addition, while glass is a suitable choice of material from which the substrates may be constructed, other materials may be used, such as optical plastics like acrylic, polycarbonate, polystyrene and allyl diglycol carbonate (commercially available from Pittsburgh Plastic Glass Industries, Pittsburgh, Pa. under the tradename "CR-39").

Reference to the figures will now be made in order to more faithfully describe the electrochromic devices, particularly the electrochromic mirrors, of the present invention.

With reference to FIGS. 3A, 3B and 4, it may be seen that the electrochromic element 1 includes a front substrate 2 and a rear substrate 3, each of which is typically glass. However, as described in detail hereinafter, in certain mirror constructions only the front or first substrate 2 needs to be at least substantially transparent, and in those constructions the rear or second substrate 3 need not be transparent at all. (See FIG. 5.) In fact, substrate 3 may be a polished metal plate, a metal-coated glass substrate or a conductive ceramic material.

By convention, the first substrate 2 (the frontmost or outermost substrate) is the substrate of the electrochromic device positioned closest to any principal source of incoming or incident electromagnetic radiation and, in an electrochromic mirror, the second substrate 3 is the substrate onto which a layer of reflective material 8 is coated. Put another way, the first substrate 2 is the substrate into which a driver of or passenger in a motor vehicle may first look through to view an image. In an electrochromic device, such as a glazing, a window or a sun roof for a motor vehicle, the first substrate 2 is the substrate exposed directly to, and often in contact with, the outdoor environment and is exposed directly to solar ultraviolet radiation.

Substrates 2,3 should be positioned substantially parallel to one another if planar (or positioned substantially tangentially parallel to one another if bent), or as close to parallel (or tangentially parallel) to one another as possible so as to minimize image separation which may lead to double imaging. Double imaging is particularly noticeable when mirrors are colored to a dimmed state. Double imaging may be further minimized in mirror constructions as described hereinafter.

Onto each of the inward surfaces of substrates 2,3 is coated a conductive electrode coating 4 or 4'. The conductive electrode coatings 4,4' may be constructed from the same material or different materials, including transparent electronic conductors, such as tin oxide; indium tin oxide ("ITO"); half-wave indium tin oxide ("HW-ITO"); full-wave indium tin oxide ("FW-ITO"); doped tin oxides, such as antimony-doped tin oxide and fluorine-doped tin oxide; doped zinc oxides, such as antimony-doped zinc oxide and aluminum-doped zinc oxide, with tin oxide, doped tin oxide, zinc oxide or doped zinc oxide being preferred where long-term ultraviolet resilience is desired in the device.

In certain mirror constructions, the conductive electrode coating 4' need not be substantially transparent. Rather, the layer of reflective material that serves as the reflective element of the mirror (with any other coatings used to form a thin film stack) may also serve as conductive electrode coating 4', thereby allowing a potential to be applied to the electrochromic element 1. Suitable materials for this layer of reflective material include metals, such as aluminum, palladium, platinum, titanium, chromium, silver, nickel-based alloys and stainless steel, with a high reflector (having a reflectance greater than about 70%), like silver or aluminum, being preferred. However, where resistance to scratching and environmental degradation is a concern, a medium reflector (having a reflectance within the range of about 40% to about 70%), like chromium, stainless steel, titanium and nickel-based alloys, is preferred. As an alternative to the use of these metals as a reflective element, multi-coated thin film stacks of inorganic oxides, halides, nitrides or the like, or a thin film layer of high index material may also be used.

The conductive electrode coatings 4,4' may be thin films of metal, such as silver, aluminum and the like, with a thickness of less than about 200 Å, which may be as low as less than about 100 Å, so that the conductive electrode coatings 4,4' are sufficiently conductive yet sufficiently transmissive. It may be desirable to index match a thin film of metal through the use of a thin film layer of a transparent metal oxide, metal nitride, metal halide or the like, such as indium oxide, zinc oxide, tin oxide, magnesium fluoride, titanium nitride, silicon dioxide, tungsten oxide or titanium dioxide, either as an overcoat or an undercoat to the thin film of metal to assist in reducing its reflectance, and increasing its transmittance, of incident visible light [see e.g., commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 5,239,406 (Lynam) ("Lynam VI")].

The sheet resistance of the conductive electrode coated glass substrates 2,3 should be less than about 100 ohms per square, with less than about 20 ohms per square being preferred. (However, as described in greater detail hereinafter, for reasons of economy it may sometimes be preferable to use substantially transparent conductive electrodes having a sheet resistance of greater than about 20 ohms per square.) Conductive electrode coated glass substrates are available commercially. For instance, ITO-coated glass substrates made from a glass substrate having deposited thereon a conductive coating of indium oxide that has been doped with tin oxide may be obtained from Donnelly Corporation, Holland, Mich. In addition, tin oxide-coated glass substrates, known as "TEC-Glass" products, may be obtained from Libbey-Owens-Ford Co., LOF Glass Division, Toledo, Ohio.

The "TEC-Glass" products are manufactured by an on-line chemical vapor deposition process. This process pyrolytically deposits onto clear float glass a multi-layer thin film structure, which includes a microscopically thin coating of fluorine-doped tin oxide (having a fine grain uniform structure) with additional undercoating thin film layers disposed between the fluorine-doped tin oxide layer and the underlying glass substrate. This structure inhibits reflected color and increases light transmittance. The resulting "TEC-Glass" product is a non-iridescent glass structure having a haze within the range of from about 0.1% to about 5%; a sheet resistance within the range of from about 10 to about 1000 ohms per square or greater; a daylight transmission within the range of from about 77% to about 87%; a solar transmission within the range of from about 64% to about 80%; and an infrared reflectance at a wavelength of about 10 μm within the range of from about 30% to about 87%.

More specifically, "TEC 10", for instance, is made from an on-line pyrolytically-coated float glass, onto which has been coated a fluorine-doped tin oxide layer containing as an undercoat an anti-iridescence means. This anti-iridescence means includes a double layer composed of a layer of silica-silicone deposited onto a layer of tin oxide.

The specific resistivity of the conductive electrode coatings 4,4' useful in the present invention may be between about 5×10-3 to about 1×10-6 ohm.centimeter, depending on the material from which the conductive electrode coatings 4,4' are constructed, and on the method of deposition and formation of the conductive electrode coatings 4,4'. For instance, where the conductive electrode coatings 4,4' are ITO, the specific resistivity is typically within the range of about 1×10-4 to about 3×10-4 ohm.centimeter. And where the conductive electrode coatings 4,4' are doped tin oxide, the specific resistivity is typically within the range of about 3×10-4 to about 5×10-3 ohm.centimeter. Where the conductive electrode coating 4' is a metal, the specific resistivity is typically less than about 5×10-5 ohm.centimeter. And where the conductive electrode coating 4' is silver, the specific resistivity is typically less than about 3×10-5 ohm.centimeter. The thickness of the metal should be such that the sheet resistance of conductive electrode coating 4' is less than about 0.75 ohms per square, preferably less than about 0.5 ohms per square and more preferably less than about 0.25 ohms per square. Preferably, the thickness of the metal used for conductive electrode coating 4' should be within the range of about 200 Å to about 5,000 Å, with a thickness within the range of 500 Å to about 2,500 Å being preferred and a thickness within the range of about 750 Å to about 1,500 Å being most preferred.

The substantially transparent conductive electrode coating 4 on the inward surface of substrate 2 is preferably highly transmissive in the visible spectrum; that is, with a light transmittance within the range of at least about 60% to greater than about 80%. Likewise, when the conductive electrode coating 4' on the inward surface of substrate 3 is to be highly transmissive, similar high light transmittance is desirable.

The conductive electrode coatings 4,4' should also be highly and uniformly conductive in each direction to provide a substantially uniform response when a potential is applied to the electrochromic element 1. And, the conductive electrode coatings 4,4' should be inert (physically, chemically and electrochemically inert) to the constituents of the electrochromic solid film 7 and the electrolyte 6.

Where the electrochromic solid film 7 is deposited as a coating onto the inward surface of either of conductive electrode coated glass substrates 2,3, it is a barrier coating between whichever of the conductive electrode coatings 4,4' it is deposited on and the electrolyte 6, as well as a barrier coating between the conductive electrode coatings 4,4' themselves.

The electrochromic solid film 7 may be deposited using a variety of film deposition means including, but not limited to, vacuum deposition techniques, such as thermal evaporation, electron beam evaporation, sputter deposition, ion plating, laser-assisted deposition, microwave-assisted deposition and ion-assisted deposition; thermal spraying; pyrolytic deposition; chemical vapor deposition ("CVD"), including atmospheric CVD, plasma enhanced CVD, low pressure CVD and the like; wet chemical deposition, including dip coating, spin coating and spray coating; and thick film methods such as those used in the application of pastes and inks. Suitable deposition results may be obtained with wet chemical deposition as taught by and described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,855,161 (Moser); 4,959,247 (Moser); 4,996,083 (Moser); 5,252,354 (Cronin) and 5,277,986 (Cronin), the disclosures of each of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference.

It may be beneficial to deposit the electrochromic solid film using vacuum deposition, preferably with an electron beam evaporation technique where the electrochromic solid film 7 is tungsten oxide and is to be placed in direct contact with, or deposited (for example, with an alternate evaporation filament, crucible, boat or an alternate electron beam gun assembly, or the like) as a layer on, the inward surface of substrate 3, which is already coated with a layer of reflective material that serves the dual role as a reflective element and a conductive electrode coating 4'.

The layer of reflective material, which also serves as a conductive electrode coating 4', with or without any adhesion enhancing undercoat layers (discussed hereinafter), may be deposited on the inward surface of substrate 3, with tungsten oxide deposited as an overcoat, without the need to refixture, break vacuum or the like. Thus, it is seen that such a dual purpose reflective element may be deposited with manufacturing ease and economy. This is particularly so when compared with conventional mirror constructions where the reflective element is coated over the rearmost (non-inward) surface of a substrate (which itself is coated with a substantially transparent conductive electrode coating on the opposite, inward surface) in one operation, and thereafter loaded into a vacuum chamber to deposit tungsten oxide onto the other surface of the substrate, which is coated with a substantially transparent conductive electrode.

When vacuum depositing the electrochromic solid film 7 by evaporation or the like, a backfill pressure in a vacuum chamber within the range of about 1×10-4 torr to greater than about 5×10-4 torr may be used. This backfill pressure may typically be achieved by evacuating the vacuum chamber to some lower base pressure (e.g., less than about 5×10-5 torr) and then backfilling the vacuum chamber with a gas such as nitrogen, argon, krypton, oxygen, water vapor and the like, or combinations thereof, to elevate the pressure in the vacuum chamber to a desired backfill pressure. Alternatively, the vacuum chamber may be pumped from atmospheric pressure down to about a pressure within the range of about 1×10-4 torr to greater than about 5×10-4 torr, and tungsten oxide, for instance, may then be evaporated onto the desired surface of substrates 2,3. It may be desirable during such vacuum deposition to monitor and to control the pressure within the vacuum chamber using pumps, valves and closed loop controls as is known in the vacuum deposition art.

With reference to FIG. 4, the conductive electrode coatings 4,4' in the mirror construction so depicted are substantially transparent. Likewise, in the mirror construction depicted in FIG. 7, conductive electrode coatings 4,4' and substrate 3 are substantially transparent.

With reference to FIG. 5, however, only the conductive electrode coating 4 of the first substrate 2 in the mirror construction so depicted need be substantially transparent; that is, the conductive electrode coating 4' need not be substantially transparent. In addition, the second substrate 3 need not be substantially transparent. In this aspect of the present invention, the layer of reflective material may be coated directly onto the inward surface of the second substrate 3 to serve as the conductive electrode coating 4' as well.

Onto one of conductive electrode coatings 4,4' is deposited a coating of an electrochromic solid film 7, such as an inorganic transition metal oxide, like tungsten oxide. As noted herein, where photochromism may be a concern, the electrochromic solid film 7 should be positioned at the inward surface of substrate 3 (which surface is coated with conductive electrode coating 4'). By so doing, the electrochromic solid film 7 should benefit from the ultraviolet screening and/or absorbing capabilities of the components of the mirror positioned in front of it and closer to incident light.

Silver or aluminum are suitable choices for conductive electrode coating 4' of substrate 3 because either metal may serve as a reflective element for the mirror and metal coatings in general are significantly more conductive than semiconducting oxides, such as ITO or doped tin oxide. As a consequence of using a thin film of metal as conductive electrode coating 4', the substantially transparent conductive electrode coating 4 of substrate 2 may be chosen with an eye toward higher sheet resistance, such as, for example, about 40 to about 100 ohms per square. This is desirable because conductive electrode coatings of higher sheet resistance are typically thinner and less expensive than conductive electrode coatings of lower sheet resistance. ITO or doped tin oxide are suitable choices for substantially transparent conductive electrode coating 4 used in conjunction with a thin film of metal as a reflective element, such as silver or aluminum, that is to serve as conductive electrode coating 4'. In addition, the use of such a thin film of metal as conductive electrode coating 4' permits the conductive strip or clip connectors (known as "bus bars") to be reduced in length, even to a point contact, on conductive electrode coating 4', rather than being used about a substantial portion of the periphery. That is, bus bars 9 may be attached at only a portion of the thin film of metal and still apply an adequate potential across the conductive electrode coatings 4,4'.

Moreover, use of the reflective element of the mirror as the conductive electrode coating 4' is also appealing from a production standpoint. Such use reduces material and manufacturing costs since an additional electrode layer or reflective element need not be provided. In addition, this dual purpose reflective element/conductive electrode coating is environmentally appealing because it is no longer necessary to enhance resistance to degradation, such as environmental degradation, by applying a paint overcoat, which may be lead-based. In addition, such conventional reflective elements located on the rearmost surface of the mirror construction are typically opaque, and, as described hereinafter, such opacity may result in additional manufacturing effort should an "on demand display" be desirable in a particular mirror construction.

Between the layer of reflective material, typically silver, and the surface of substrate 3 to which it is applied, may desirably be coated a thin film adhesion enhancing means to act as an adhesion promoter ("adhesion promoter"). (See FIG. 6.) The adhesion promoter 11 enhances long-term adhesion of the layer of reflective material to the surface of substrate 3. It is known in the art that there are certain difficulties in adhering a reflective material such as silver to a substrate such as glass, especially where the reflective material is to be deposited by a vacuum deposition process such as evaporation. The adhesion promoter 11 of the present invention overcomes these difficulties and provides a practical way of applying a coating which will function as a dual purpose reflective element/conductive electrode in an electrochromic mirror.

Suitable adhesion promoters 11 include thin films of metal and metal oxides that provide enhanced adhesion over a silver to glass interface, such as chromium, stainless steel, nickel-based alloys (e.g., Hastelloy), titanium, monel, nichrome, molybdenum, metal oxides (e.g., silver oxide, aluminum oxide, indium oxide, indium tin oxide, tin oxide, doped tin oxide, zinc oxide, doped zinc oxide and chromium oxide) and the like. The use of thin films of metal or conducting metal oxides (such as indium tin oxide and doped tin oxides) as adhesion promoters as described herein is advantageous in view of their low cost (due to the relative simplicity of evaporating metal onto a surface of a substrate to form metal or metal oxide coatings), their electrical conductivity that augments that of conductive electrode coating 4', and their mechanical hardness. In addition, use of such thin films of metal or conducting metal oxides as adhesion promoters which undercoat the layer of reflective material assist in maintaining the conductivity of the bus bars 9. This is particularly advantageous in the event a bus bar (e.g., a clip connector) should pierce through the layer of reflective material, because the adhesion promoter is a conductive material that sustains electrical continuity.

An adhesion promoter 11 may be an undercoat of a thin film of a single metal, a metal oxide, or a combination of a metal and a metal oxide. A method for promoting adhesion of the layer of reflective material to a surface of substrate 3 involves deposition, such as by vacuum evaporation or sputtering of a metal, typically silver, initially in an oxygen-rich atmosphere. In this atmosphere, a thin film of silver oxide is applied onto a surface of substrate 3. Then, by progressively decreasing the oxygen atmosphere to zero, a progressively decreased amount of oxide is formed with respect to the metal content in the thin film deposited on the substrate 3. Finally, with little to no oxygen remaining in the atmosphere, a thin film of silver may be built-up upon the previously formed undercoat of its own oxide/gradient oxide to form an adhesion-promoting layer between the surface of substrate 3 and the layer of reflective material. Likewise, chromium may be deposited initially as a thin film of chromium oxide in an atmosphere of enhanced partial pressure of oxygen, followed by deposition of a thin film of metallic chromium by depleting the supply of oxygen. Oxygen may be introduced again to permit the deposition of silver oxide, and finally with deposition of a thin film of metallic silver following in an inert atmosphere. The substrate may also be heated, such as to a temperature within the range of from about 100° C. to about 500° C. (and preferably within the range of from about 150° C. to about 400° C.), during reactive deposition of metal to form a metal oxide. Heating the substrate in this manner may assist reactive formation of the oxide from the metal and may further enhance adhesion. Moreover, a metal oxide, such as chromium oxide, silver oxide, aluminum oxide, indium oxide, tin oxide, titanium oxide or tantalum oxide, may be deposited, such as reactively deposited in an oxygen-rich atmosphere, by vacuum deposition (e.g., evaporation to sputtering) to form adhesion promoter 11.

The adhesion promoter 11 should have a thickness within the range of from about 10 Å to about 2,500 Å or greater, with about 50 Å to 1,000 Å being preferred.

Adhesion promoter 11 can be a single thin film coating or a stack of thin film coatings. For example, the inward facing surface of substrate 3 can first be coated with a conducting metal oxide adhesion promoter coating of indium tin oxide, which in turn is overcoated with a metal adhesion promoter coating of chromium, with this stack in turn being overcoated with a reflective coating of silver.

In addition to mirrors employing an electrochromic solid film, adhesion promoter 11 of the present invention may also be used in mirrors employing other types of electrochromic technology, such as electrochromic solution technology of the electrochemichromic type (e.g., Byker I, Byker II, Varaprasad I and Varaprasad III). Thus, adhesion promoter 11 may be used to construct electrochromic mirrors containing an electrochromic solution in which a single coating or stack of coatings functions as a dual purpose reflective element/conductive electrode.

For some applications, it may be desirable to prevent build-up of deposited materials (such as, tungsten oxide and/or silver) at a portion or portions of the inward surface of substrates 2 or 3 inboard from an edge thereof. In this regard, a magnetizable metal mask may be placed over the portion(s) where it is desired to prevent build-up of such deposited materials. The magnetizable metal mask may then be held at that portion of the substrate under a magnetic influence while the material is deposited. For example, a magnetizable metal mask may be placed at the desired location on the inward surface of substrate 3 prior to coating the inward surface thereof with an adhesion promoter (e.g. chromium), a layer of reflective material (e.g., silver) and a layer of an electrochromic solid film (e.g., tungsten oxide). A magnet may be placed on the rearmost surface of substrate 3 behind that location on the inward surface of substrate 3 to ensure that the mask is held in place. Upon removal of the mask after completion of deposition of the chromium/silver/tungsten oxide stack onto the inward surface of substrate 3, a deposition-free portion of that surface is formed.

As stated supra, the spaced-apart glass substrates 2,3 have a sealing means 5 positioned therebetween to assist in defining the interpane spacing in which the electrochromic solid film 7 and the electrolyte 6 are located. The sealing means 5 may be constructed of any material inert (physically, chemically and electrochemically inert) to the electrochromic solid film 7 and the components of the electrolyte 6, as well as to any other material used in the device. To that end, the sealing means 5 may be chosen from the following materials including, but not limited to, various thermosetting materials, such as epoxy resins and silicones, various thermoplastic materials, such as plasticized polyvinyl butyral, polyvinyl chloride, paraffin waxes, ionomer resins, various inorganic materials and the like. For a further recitation of suitable sealing materials, see commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 5,233,461 (Dornan).

The thickness of the sealing means 5 may vary from about 10 μm to about 1,000 μm. Preferably, however, this thickness is about 50 μm to about 100 μm.

In addition, the sealing means 5 may prevent escape of the electrolyte 6, when in a liquid-phase, from the electrochromic element 1 or penetration of environmental contaminants into the electrolyte, whether in a liquid-phase or in a solid-phase. Of course, when the electrolyte is in a solid-phase, leakage or seepage of the electrolyte from the mirror is not a concern, but contamination may be.

To enhance the integrity of a long-lasting seal in terms of seal resiliency, any electrochromic solid film 7 deposited toward the peripheral edges of one of the substrates 2,3 may be removed so that a seal may be formed directly between a conductive electrode coating 4 of substrate 2 and a conductive electrode coating 4' of substrate 3--i.e., directly between at least a portion of the conductive electrode coated glass substrates 2,3. This may be accomplished, for example, by depositing tungsten oxide onto larger sheets of glass and then cutting substrates therefrom. By so doing, the tungsten oxide coating extends to the cut edge of the substrate. A variety of removal means may then be employed to remove that portion of the coating from the substrate--up to less than about 2 mm to about 6 mm or thereabouts--inward from the peripheral edges of the substrates. These removal means may include chemical removal, such as with water or with a slightly acidic or basic aqueous solution; physical removal, such as with a blade; laser etching; sandblasting and the like. The conductive electrode coatings 4,4' at the peripheral edge may also be removed in like fashion along with the tungsten oxide overcoat.

Alternatively, substrates 2,3 may be pre-cut to a desired size and shape prior to depositing an electrochromic solid film 7 thereon. These pre-cut substrates may be loaded into a masking fixture to prevent deposition of the electrochromic solid film 7 a pre-determined distance from the edges of the substrates--such as, inward from the edge up to less than about 2 mm to about 6 mm. The masking system may also allow for small tab-out portions to facilitate electrical connection with the conductive electrode coatings 4,4' and the electrochromic solid film 7 deposited in one and the same deposition operation. Of course, it may be possible to employ movable fixturing or to break vacuum and rearrange fixtures should tab-outs not be desired.

Moisture is known to permeate through electrochromic solid films, such as tungsten oxide. Thus, where sealing means 5 is positioned entirely or partially over the electrochromic solid film 7, a secondary weather barrier 12 may be advantageously employed about the periphery of the joint of the assembled laminate (see FIG. 5) to optimize seal integrity which may be compromised by such moisture permeation or permeation of other environmental degradants. Suitable materials for use as a secondary weather barrier 12 include adhesives, such as silicones, epoxies, epoxides and urethanes, which may be ultraviolet curable, room temperature curable or heat curable.

Other commercially available adhesives that are particularly well-suited for use herein as a secondary weather barrier 12 include those epoxides commercially available under the "ENVIBAR" tradename from Union Carbide Chemicals and Plastics Co., Inc., Danbury, Conn., such as "ENVIBAR" UV 1244T (cycloalkyl epoxides).

A secondary weather barrier 12 may be formed around the sealed joint between substrates 2,3 at any point of contact between the sealing means 5 and the electrochromic solid film 7, using in the case of ultraviolet curable adhesives, commercially available curing systems, such as the Fusion UV Curing Systems F-300 B and F-450 [Fusion UV Curing Systems, Buffalo Grove, Ill.], Hanovia UV Curing System [Hanovia Corp., Newark, N.J.], RC-500 A Pulsed UV Curing System [Xenon Corp., Woburn, Mass.] and a Sunlighter UV chamber fitted with low intensity mercury vapor lamps and a turntable.

A source of an applied potential may be introduced to the electrochromic element 1 of the electrochromic mirror by the electrical leads 10, which may be wire, solder and the like. The electrical leads 10 may typically be connected or affixed to bus bars 9, which themselves may typically be connected or affixed to the conductive electrode coatings 4,4'. The bus bars 9 may be constructed from a variety of conducting materials including metals, alloys, solder such as ultrasonically-applied solder (e.g., Cerasolzer™ manufactured by the Asahi Glass Co., Tokyo, Japan), metal ribbon connecters, conducting polymers (e.g., conducting rubbers and conducting epoxies), conducting frits, such as silver frits [e.g., silver conductive frit #7713 (commercially available from E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Company, Wilmington, Del.)] and the like. A non-exhaustive recitation of such conducting materials may be found in Lynam IV. Bus bar materials such as conducting silver frits or solders may even overlap onto the cut edge of the substrate to facilitate connection of electrical leads in the flush assemblies of the invention.

An exposed portion of the conductive electrode coatings 4,4' may be provided through displacement in opposite directions relative to one another--i.e., laterally from, but parallel to, the cavity which is created by the substrates 2,3 and the sealing means 5--of the substrates 2,3 onto which the bus bars 9 may be affixed or adhered. (See FIG. 11A.) In addition, substrates 2,3 may be off-set to provide an exposed portion of the conductive electrode coatings 4,4' through displacement in opposite directions relative to one another followed by perpendicular displacement relative to one another. (See FIG. 11B.) The dimensions of substrates 2,3 may also be such that, for example, substrate 2 may have a greater width and/or length than substrate 3. Thus, simply by positioning substrates 2,3 in spaced-apart relationship and so that their central portions are aligned will allow for peripheral edges of the substrate with greater dimensions to extend beyond the peripheral edges of the substrate with smaller dimensions. Thus, a portion of conductive electrode coating 4 or 4' will be exposed, depending on whichever of substrates 2,3 is dimensioned with a larger width and/or length. (See FIG. 11C.)

An exposed portion of the conductive electrode coatings 4,4' may also be provided in a flush design, where the substrates 2,3 are sized and shaped to like dimensions. In such a flush design, the first substrate 2 and the second substrate 3 may each be notched at appropriate positions along their respective edges. The notches so provided present convenient areas for bus bars and/or point contacts to which are connected or affixed electrical leads 10 for the introduction of an applied potential thereto.

It may also be desirable to apply a layer of reflective material onto the inward surface of substrate 3, and with substrate 3 notched in at least one appropriate position along its edges. In this way, direct access is available to the conductive electrode coated inward surface of substrate 2. Likewise, substrate 2 may be notched at a position appropriately spaced from the notch or notches on substrate 3 to provide access to the conductive electrode coated inward surface of substrate 3. These notches provide convenient areas for electrical leads 10 to be connected or affixed, and allow for such connection or affixation to be made within the overall dimensions of the mirror assembly. For example, one or both of the substrates 2,3 may be notched along one or more edges, and bus bars 9 may then be affixed over the exposed portion of conductive electrode coatings 4,4' of substrates 2,3. Electrical leads 10 may then be joined to the bus bars 9. The electrical connection may be made to the inward surfaces of substrates 2,3 without requiring further electrical connection on the peripheral edge of the mirror assembly. As such, the electrical connection to conductive electrode coatings 4,4' will be hidden from view by the reflective element and/or the mirror case or housing.

Alternatively, one or more localized lobe(s) may be provided at appropriate positions along the respective edges of substrates 2,3 to facilitate direct access to the conductive coated inward surfaces of substrates 2,3.

The bus bars 9 may also comprise thin metal films, preferably with a thickness within the range of about 500 Å to about 50,000 Å or greater. These thin metal film bus bars may be deposited onto conductive electrode 4 and/or 4' by vacuum deposition, such as by evaporation or sputtering, and typically have a width within the range of about 0.05 mm to about 6 mm (and preferably with a thickness in the range of 0.05 μm to about 5 μm or greater) and are inboard from the perimeter edge of the substrate.

To form the thin metal film bus bars, a mask may be affixed over the central region of the substantially transparent conductive electrode coated substrate leaving at least a portion, and preferably most, of the perimeter region unmasked. Then a thin film of metal, such as chromium and/or silver, or other metals such as copper, titanium, steel, nickel-based alloys, and the like, may be deposited using a vacuum deposition process across the entire surface, coating both the masked central region and the unmasked perimetal region. Thereafter, the mask may be removed leaving the central region of the substrate transparent and with a conducting thin metal film bus bar deposited on at least a portion of the perimetal region. For manufacturing economy, it may be desirable to establish thin metal film bus bars on the inward surface of substrate 2, conductive electrode coating 4' and electrochromic solid film 7 in a unitary vacuum deposition process step. Thus, it may be convenient to overlay in central alignment, for example, substrate 3 (being uncoated glass) onto the substantially transparent conductive electrode coated surface of substrate 2, where substrate 3 is sized and shaped about 2 mm to about 4 mm smaller in both length and width than substrate 2 (see e.g., FIG. 11C). A peripheral edge of substrate 2 of about 2 mm to about 4 mm will then extend beyond the peripheral edge of substrate 3. In this instance, substrate 2 is made, for example, from ITO-coated glass, and substrate 3 is made from clear soda-lime glass. With this configuration, a vacuum deposition process may be used to deposit a thin metal film and, optionally, a metal oxide thereover, across the entire surface.

Upon completion of the deposition process, the substrates 2,3 may be separated from one another. The formation of a thin metal film bus bar consisting of a chromium/silver coating about the peripheral edge of substrate 2 may then be seen where, because of its smaller dimensions, substrate 3 has served the role of a mask to the major, central region of substrate 2 during deposition. That is, when substrate 3 is removed, the major, central region of substrate 2 has not been coated during the deposition and the transparency of the major, central region of substrate 2 is maintained. Because this thin metal film bus bar is highly conductive and extends about the entire periphery of substrate 2, electric potential may be supplied by means of a point electrical contact (optionally with local removal of any metal oxide) without the need for a large metal clip or ribbon connector wire as has been conventionally used heretofore. Moreover, because the thin metal film bus bar consists of a chromium/silver coating it forms a highly reflective perimeter coating which may be used to conceal any seal and/or electrical connection for the electrochromic cell. [See U.S. Pat. No. 5,060,112 (Lynam), the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference.]

In addition, the surface of substrate 3 which was exposed during deposition is now coated with a chromium/silver/tungsten oxide stack, which may be used as the inward surface in forming an electrochromic cell. The cut edge of substrate 3 is also coated with a chromium/silver coating during the unitary vacuum deposition process due to the inevitable overspray which occurs in such a process. This chromium/silver coating around the cut edge of substrate 3 may itself conveniently be used to establish an electrical connection to apply potential to electrochromic solid film 7.

The applied potential may be supplied from a variety of sources including, but not limited to, any source of alternating current (AC) or direct current (DC) known in the art, provided that, if an AC source is chosen, control elements, such as diodes, should be placed between the source and the conductive electrode coatings 4,4' to ensure that the potential difference between the conductive electrode coatings 4,4' does not change with variations in polarity of the applied potential from the source. Suitable DC sources include storage batteries, solar thermal cells, photovoltaic cells or photoelectrochemical cells.

The applied potential generated from any of these sources may be introduced to the electrochromic element 1 within the range of about 0.001 volts to about 5.0 volts. Typically, however, an applied potential of about 0.2 volts to about 2.0 volts is preferred to cause the electrochromic element to dim to a colored state--i.e., to change the amount of light transmitted therethrough. For electrochromic solid films like tungsten oxide, the negative polarity of the potential should be applied onto whichever of substrates 2,3 the electrochromic solid film 7 is deposited.

The teaching of the present invention is well-suited for use in electrochromic mirrors whose functional surface is substantially planar or flat. For example, flat electrochromic mirrors for motor vehicles may be manufactured with the electrochromic element of the present invention.

In addition, the present teaching is well-suited for use in electrochromic mirrors having a curved functional surface, with a convex curvature, a compound curvature, a multi-radius curvature, aspherical curvature, an aspheric curvature, or combinations of such curvature. (See FIG. 13.) Convex electrochromic mirrors for motor vehicles may be manufactured with the electrochromic element of the present invention, with radii of curvature typically within the range of about 25" to about 250", preferably within the range of about 35" to about 120", as are conventionally known.

Multi-radius mirrors for motor vehicles, such as those described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,449,786 (McCord), may also be manufactured in accordance with the present invention. Multi-radius mirrors for motor vehicles may typically be used on the driver-side exterior of a motor vehicle to extend the driver's field of view and to enable the driver to see safely and to avoid blind-spots in the rearward field of view. Generally, such mirrors have a region of a higher radius (i.e., substantially planar or flat) closer or inboard to the driver that serves principally as the primary driver's rear vision function and a region of a lower radius (i.e., more curved) farther or outboard from the driver that serves principally as the blind-spot detection zone in the mirror.

In forming spherical mirrors, such as convex exterior mirrors, or aspherical mirrors such as the multi-radius mirror 44 in FIG. 13, the radius of curvature for the substrates to be used for the laminate assembly formed by the electrochromic element 1 between substrates 2,3 should be matched. Moreover, in aspherical mirrors, the two substrates 2,3 in the laminate assembly should be matched so that the local radius in one substrate, for example in the first substrate 2, is located over, and oriented to align with, its corresponding local radius in the other substrate, for example, in the second substrate 3. (See FIG. 13.)

To achieve such radius of curvature matching, a desired shape for the substrates of the aspherical mirrors may be cut from a flat substrate of dimensions greater than that of the desired multi-radius shape. This initial flat substrate ("a flat minilite") may have a rectangular, square or circular shape, or may be of the general shape of the desired multi-radius shape, or any other convenient alternative shape. Glass lites from which the flat minilites may be cut are desirably substantially colorless or tinted soda-lime sheets of glass. In addition, depending on the particular mirror construction and whether the desired bent shape derived from the flat minilite is to be employed as the front substrate 2 or the rear substrate 3, glass lites/flat minilites, from which the desired bent shape may be derived, may be coated with a substantially transparent conductive electrode coating, such as ITO or fluorine-doped tin oxide. As noted supra, fluorine-doped tin oxide coated glass is commercially available from Libbey-Owens-Ford Co. under the "TEC-Glass" tradename.

Once cut, the oversized flat minilites may be bent to the desired multi-radius using either conventional slump bending or press bending. Also, individual minilites may be bent to compound curvature or two flat minilites may be bent together as a matched pair. To manufacture a matched pair of bent minilites, two flat minilites may be stacked on top of one another, loaded in a tandem orientation into a bending press and bent together to the desired curvature (which may be spherical or aspherical) in one bending process step.

Where individual bent minilites are to be manufactured, any one bent minilite manufactured in any one bending process step is intended to match any other bent minilite. In electrochromic mirrors, it may be advantageous to use the twin bent minilites manufactured in tandem one on top of the other in the one bending operation step as a given matched pair to assemble a laminate construction.

The desired substrates may be cut from bent minilites to the dimension and shape suitable for use in the intended laminate construction of the particular electrochromic mirror. To the extent that the cullet trimmed away from the bent minilite manufactured as described supra conforms least to the intended radius design, bending oversized minilites is recommended. However, and particularly where the bending operation is to be attentively supervised, the desired dimensioned shape may first be cut from flat glass lites, with the desired dimensioned shape then bent to the desired multi-radius curvature.

It may be advantageous to cut multi-radius front and rear substrates from their respective bent minilites to facilitate proper alignment of a local radius on the first substrate relative to its corresponding local radius on the second substrate. In this regard, a matched pair of bent minilites may be assembled into a laminate construction with the first substrate laterally displaced from the second substrate, yet sustaining local to local radius alignment there between. In addition, should there be an asymmetry in radius, one perimeter length, LC, of the bent minilite may be identified as the lower radius (more curved) part of the minilite compared with its opposite perimeter length, LF, identified as the higher radius (more flat) part of that same bent minilite. Likewise, for its twin match in a matched pair of bent minilites, there may exist corresponding LC' and LF' perimeter lengths.

Suitable jigs or the like may be used to assemble a laminate construction of an electrochromic mirror with their corresponding perimeter lengths aligned. For example, LC may be aligned a few millimeters (e.g., 3 mm) inboard relative to LC' so that their local radii are mutually aligned and the desired electrical connection is established along LC' and LF. This may be accomplished by cutting a measured portion (e.g., 3 mm) of bent glass away from along LC and LF' and using jigs to align the now-cut edge of LC to the same measured distance (e.g., 3 mm) inboard from LC', with the respective substrates juxtaposed. Because of this alignment, local radius conformity between the substrates in a laminate construction may be established.

Alternatively, the bent minilites may be cut from oversized minilites so that one cut substrate may be laid on top of another cut substrate aligned in substantially flush relationship so that local to local radius conformity may be maintained and electrical connection may be established [see Lynam IV, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference].

While not required, the minilites may be sufficiently oversized to allow more than one substrate to be cut out from a given minilite, if the bending tool is appropriately designed. By so doing, the substrate cutting process benefits from economies of scale. For example, two substrates may be cut from the one sufficiently oversized bent minilite. These side-by-side matched twin substrates may be used as substrates 2,3 to construct the same electrochromic laminate assembly, or they may be used to serve as a substrate in any electrochromic laminate assembly.

Also, certain substantially transparent conductive electrode coatings, such as doped tin oxides, are aerobically inert, and as such may be bent in an ordinary air atmosphere without taking precautions to exclude oxygen. However, suitable precautions should be taken to avoid any crazing, hazing or optical deterioration of the conductive electrode coatings 4,4' during the bending process. Other substantially transparent conductive electrode coatings, such as ITO, may be bent from flat sheet stock using techniques such as those described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,490,227 (Bitter), the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference. After or during heat treatment of ITO, such as in a bending/annealing process which produces spherical and aspherical shaped substrates suitable for assembling laminate constructions for electrochromic mirrors or when firing ceramic frit bus bar material such as silver conductive frit #7713 (Du Pont), it may be desirable to establish a reducing atmosphere, as described in Bitter, such as a hydrogen-rich atmosphere, like that established with forming gas.

Glass lites and minilites may also be manufactured into spherical and/or aspherical shaped substrates without first being coated with a conductive electrode. In such instances, after the spherical and/or aspherical bent minilites or shaped substrates are manufactured, a conductive electrode coating, such as ITO, may thereafter be deposited onto the concave surface of the substrate 2 and the convex surface of the substrate 3.

A demarcation means 22 may be used in the multi-radius mirrors as described herein to separate the more curved, outboard region 55 (i.e., that portion of an exterior driver-side multi-radius mirror outboard and farthest from the driver) used by the driver principally as the blind-spot detection zone from the less curved, more flat inboard region 65 (i.e., closer to the driver) used by the driver principally for the primary rear vision function. (See FIG. 13.)

The demarcation means 22 may be a black or darkly colored continuous line or closely interspaced dots, dashes or spots (silk-screened or otherwise applied), which divides the outboard region from the inboard region of the multi-radius mirror. This black or darkly colored dividing line (or its aforestated equivalent) may assist the driver of a motor vehicle to discern the difference between images in the outermost, more curved region from those in the innermost, more flat region of the mirror. The thickness of this dividing line should be within the range of about 0.1 mm to about 3 mm, with about 0.5 mm to about 2 mm being preferred.

The demarcation means 22 may be constructed from an organic material, such as a polymer like an epoxy; an inorganic material, such as a ceramic frit; or a mixed organic/inorganic material. Such demarcation means 22 may be constructed to include, for example, an epoxy coupled with glass spacer beads, or plastic tape or a die cut from plastic tape. The demarcation means may be placed onto the conductive electrode coatings 4,4' of either or both of substrates 2,3 by silk-screening or other suitable technique prior to assembling the device. Also, the demarcation means 22 may be applied to any or all of the surfaces of substrates 2,3--i.e., the inward surfaces of substrates 2,3 or the opposite, non-inward surfaces of substrates 2,3. Additives may be included in the material used as a demarcation means to provide or enhance color, such as a dark color, like black, or dark blue or dark brown; to enhance stability (e.g., ultraviolet stabilizing agents such as described herein); or to increase adhesion (e.g., coupling agents, such as silane-, titanium-, or zirconium-based coupling agents). Alternatively, a dividing line may be established by etching a surface of substrate 2 and/or 3 (such as by sand blasting, laser etching or chemical etching) with optional staining of the etched-surface to develop a dark colored dividing line.

Where ceramic frits are used as a demarcation means and/or where bus bars are formed by applying a silver conductive frit [e.g., #7713 (Du Pont)] around the periphery and inboard from the edge of the inward surface(s) of substrate 2 and/or substrate 3, it may be convenient to silk-screen or otherwise apply the material to either or both of the substrates 2,3 prior to bending. In this way, the bending operation serves the dual purpose of bending and firing/curing the ceramic frit onto the substrates. In addition, where epoxies or other organic-based materials are used as the demarcation means and/or materials which act as bus bars, it may be convenient to silk-screen or otherwise apply the material to either or both of the substrates prior to final cure of the material used as the sealing means so that the sealing means, the demarcation means and/or material which acts as bus bars may be fired/cured in one and the same operation step. A dividing line may also be established within the cavity formed between substrates 2,3.

A driver textural warning 23, such as the conventional textural warning "objects in mirror are closer than they appear", may be included in the outermost more curved portion 55 of an electrochromic multi-radius exterior mirror according to this invention. (See FIG. 13.) Alternatively, a driver textural warning may be included in the innermost less curved region 65. Heretofore, such warnings have been established through sandblasting or as described in O'Farrell. Alternatively, textural warnings may be applied by silkscreening onto a surface of one of the substrates 2,3 of the mirror assembly or by other suitable techniques, such as laser etching, onto the reflective element of the mirror which is coated onto a surface of substrate 3.

On demand displays 14 may be positioned behind the reflective element of the mirror (see FIGS. 9 and 10) and become activated by user input or by input from a sensor, such as a supplementary vision device (e.g., camera, sensor, proximity detector, blind-spot detector, infrared and microwave detector), temperature sensor, fuel sensor, fault detector, compass sensor, global positioning satellite detector, hazard detector or the like. In addition, a vehicle function (such as a turn signal, hand brake, foot brake, high beam selection, gear change, memory feature selection and the like) may activate the on demand display. The on demand display may also be activated by a function such as a compass, clock, a message center, a speedometer, an engine revolution per unit meter and the like. In the context of their use in conjunction with rearview mirrors for motor vehicles, an on demand display, when not active or activated, should desirably remain at least substantially unobservable or undetectable by the driver and/or passengers. Similarly, in other applications with which these on demand displays may be desirably used, they should remain at least substantially unobservable or undetectable when not activated.

On demand displays 14 should be an emitting electronic display, such as a vacuum fluorescent display, a light emitting diode, a gas discharge display, a plasma display, a cathode ray tube, an electroluminescent display and the like.

Conventionally, the reflective element in electrochromic mirrors is constructed by coating the rearmost (non-inward) surface of the second substrate 3, with a reflective element using a wet chemical silver line mirror coating. This rearmost surface is typically coated with a layer of silver 8, and then protected with a thin film layer of copper 19 which itself is overcoated with a protective material 20, typically a paint such as a lead-based paint. In this construction, the light transmissivity through the mirror is substantially opaque--i.e., substantially less than about 0.01%. To place a display, camera, sensor or the like behind such a conventional mirror, a "window" 13 through which light may pass must be created as described hereinafter.

With reference to FIGS. 8, 9 and 10, it may be seen that on demand display capability may be introduced to a mirror through the window 13 that has been previously created therein [typically, by sand blasting, mechanical erosion (e.g., with a spinning rubber), laser etching, chemical etching and the like] by coating a layer of reflective material, such as a thin film of a metal 16 (e.g., a medium reflector, such as chromium, titanium, stainless steel and the like, having a thickness preferably less than about 750 Å), onto the rearmost (non-inward) surface of substrate 3 at the portion of the substrate where the window 13 exists. (See FIG. 10.) It may be preferable to use a medium reflector, such as chromium, titanium, stainless steel and the like, because such medium reflectors are durable, scratch resistant and resistant to environmental degradation without the need for additional overcoat layers like paints, lacquers, or other oxide coatings. Nevertheless, such overcoat layers may, of course, be used. Also, a high reflector such as silver or aluminum may be used, if desired. The window 13, now being only partially opaque in light transmissivity, is substantially light reflecting.

This partially transmitting/substantially reflecting window may be established through evaporating or sputtering (using vacuum deposition techniques) chromium metal over the window to a thickness of up to about 750 Å. By so doing, light transmittance within the range of about 1% to about 10% may be achieved, while also achieving light reflectance within the range of about 40% to about 65%. This method, however, introduces increased manufacturing costs (e.g., by first creating the window in the silver line-coated rearmost surface of substrate 3 and then vacuum depositing thereover the thin film of chromium). Also, the differences in reflectivity between the higher reflectance off the silver reflective element and the lower reflectance off the partially transmitting, lesser reflecting window may be detectable by or noticeable to an observer.

An alternative method involves the use of a partially transmitting (i.e., light transmission within the range of at least about 1% to about 20%), substantially reflecting (i.e., light reflectance within the range of least about 40% to greater than about 70%) metal foil or reflector-coated polymer sheet or film 15, such as metalized polymer sheet or film, like aluminum or chromium coated acrylic sheet or polyester "MYLAR" film (commercially available from Du Pont). Such a foil, or sheet or film 15, reflector coated with a thin film of metal 16 may be contacted with, or adhered to using an optical adhesive 18, preferably an index matching adhesive such as described hereinafter, the window 13 in the layer of reflective material on substrate 3.

Likewise, an appropriately sized glass cover sheet 15 (or a polymer cover sheet) which is coated with a thin film of metal 16 that is partially light transmitting (preferably, about 1% to about 20%), and yet substantially light reflecting (preferably, at least about 40% to greater than about 70%) may be contacted with, or adhered to using an optical adhesive 18 as described herein, the window 13 in the layer of reflective material on substrate 3. (See FIG. 9.) The glass cover sheet 15 may be any desired shape and should be sufficiently large to at least cover the entire window 13 created in the silver-coated, rearmost surface of substrate 3 (which may be suitable to accommodate, for example, compass displays, like the compass displays described in O'Farrell and Larson).

It may be convenient to coat glass lites with a high reflector, such as a thin film coating of aluminum or silver, to a thickness that achieves the desired partial light transmittance and substantial light reflectance. Alternatively, a medium reflector, such as a thin film coating of chromium, stainless steel, titanium or the like, may be used to coat the glass lites.

An inorganic oxide coating, such as silicon dioxide, titanium dioxide, zinc oxide or the like, may also be overcoated onto the thin film metal reflector coating to impart resilience, resistance against environmental degradation, enhance scratch resistance and enhance optical performance. Likewise, a thin film of magnesium fluoride, or a combination of thin films of dielectric materials such as described supra, may be used to overcoat the thin film metal reflector coating. A clear coat of a lacquer, such as an acrylic- or a urethane-based lacquer or the like, is still another choice which may be used to overcoat the thin film metal reflector coating.

Once formed, the partially transmitting/substantially reflecting glass lites may be subdivided into a multitude of smaller sized cover sheets to cover the window in the reflector on the rearmost (non-inward) surface of substrate 3. More specifically, a square, circle or rectangle may be cut to dimensions of about 1 to about 6 mm or larger than the dimensions of the window for the display. The square- or rectangular-shaped glass cover sheets may then be contacted with, or adhered to, the rearmost (non-inward) surface of substrate 3 to cover the previously established window for the display.

An optical adhesive 18 that is index matched to the refractive index of glass (i.e., about 1.52) may be used to adhere the glass cover sheet 15 to the rearmost (non-inward) surface of substrate 3. Such optical adhesives maximize optical quality and optical index matching, and minimize interfacial reflection, and include plasticized polyvinyl butyral, various silicones, polyurethanes such as "NORLAND NOA 65" and "NORLAND NOA 68", and acrylics such as "DYMAX LIGHT-WELD 478". The glass cover sheet 15 may be positioned with its semitransparent metal reflector coating 16 closest to the rearmost (non-inward) surface of substrate 3 so that the mirror construction comprises an assembled stack of the glass cover sheet 15/semitransparent reflector metal coating 16/optical adhesive 18/rearmost (non-inward) surface of substrate 3. In this construction, the optical adhesive is used as both an adhesive and as a protectant for the semitransparent metal reflector-coating 16 of the glass cover sheet 15. Such a use of semitransparent reflector-coated glass cover sheets 15/16 lends itself to economical and automated assembly. Also, the cover sheet may be made from glass that is coated with a dichroic mirror or made from polymer reflector material ("PRM"), as described hereinafter.

As an alternative to localized reflector coating with a thin metal film as shown in FIG. 10, or localized use of cover sheets, foils, films, and the like as shown in FIG. 9, at the non-inward surface of substrate 3 at window 13, similar localized reflector means can be employed at the inward facing surface of substrate 3 at the location of window 13.

An emitting display 14 may also be positioned behind the rearmost (non-inward) surface of the glass cover sheet 15 (which itself is positioned behind substrate 3 of the electrochromic mirror assembly). In this regard, it may be desirable to use a thin glass for the cover sheet 15 to minimize multiple imaging and/or double imaging. The thickness of the cover sheet need not be thicker than about 0.063", with suitable thicknesses being about 0.063"; about 0.043"; about 0.028"; about 0.016" and about 0.008". However, if desired the thickness of the cover sheet 15 may be greater than about 0.063".

Again with reference to FIG. 5, where the layer of reflective material is coated onto the inward surface of substrate 3, improved optical performance may be observed without reducing the thickness of substrate 3. In such constructions, a relatively thick glass (having a thickness of greater than about 0.063") may be used for substrate 3 with a thin glass (having a thickness of about 0.063" or less) used for substrate 2 while maintaining good mechanical properties due to the relatively greater stiffness of substrate 3. Improved optical performance may also be observed due to the relative closeness of the layer of reflective material (coated onto the inward surface of substrate 3) and the frontmost (non-inward) surface of substrate 2.

An illustration of this aspect of the present invention may be seen where substrate 3 is fabricated from "TEC 10" glass (having a sheet resistance of about 10 ohms per square), with a thickness of about 3 mm, and substrate 2 is fabricated from soda-lime glass (coated with HW-ITO having a sheet resistance of about 12 ohms per square as a substantially transparent conductive electrode coating 4), with a thickness of about 0.043" In this construction, the fluorine-doped tin oxide surface of the substrate 3 fabricated from "TEC 10" glass is positioned inward (and overcoated with a metal reflector/conductive electrode coating 4') and the HW-ITO coated surface of substrate 2 is also positioned inward so that the coated substrates 2,3 face one another.

A silicon or similar elemental semiconductor material may also be used as a reflective element 8 coated onto either the rearmost (non-inward) surface or the inward surface of substrate 3. Methods for making elemental semiconductor mirrors for motor vehicles are taught by and described in commonly assigned co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 07/700,760, filed May 15, 1991 ("the '760 application"), the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference. Where it is desired that the high reflectance off the elemental semiconductor reflector be within the range of at least about 60% to greater than about 70%, an undercoat of a thin film layer of silicon dioxide between a thin film layer of silicon and the surface of the substrate onto which it is coated may be used to enhance reflectivity performance [see e.g., the '760 application; and U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,377,613 (Gordon) and 4,419,386 (Gordon), the disclosures of each of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference].

In addition, the layer of silicon and/or an undercoat of silicon dioxide may be deposited using techniques such as vacuum deposition, spray deposition, CVD, pyrolysis and the like. For example, in-line deposition on a float glass line, and preferably in-bath, in-line deposition on a float glass line (as known in the glass manufacturing art) using CVD may be employed to deposit silicon layers and silicon/silicon dioxide thin film stacks onto float glass to provide a reflector for substrate 3 that is both highly reflecting and partially transmitting. A further advantage of these elemental semiconductor coatings is that they are bendable.

For example, a glass coated with a reflective element may be constructed by depositing onto a glass substrate a first layer of elemental silicon at an optical thickness of about 6,950 Å, followed by deposition of a second layer of silicon dioxide at an optical thickness of about 1,050 Å, which in turn is followed by deposition of a third layer of elemental silicon at an optical thickness of about 1,600 Å. Such a construction has a luminous reflectance of about 69% before heating and bending; and a luminous reflectance of about 74% after heating and bending. A substantially transparent conductive electrode coating, such as doped tin oxide (e.g., fluorine-doped tin oxide) and the like, may be coated over the third layer of elemental silicon to construct a highly reflecting, electrically conducting glass substrate suitable for use in electrochromic mirrors and electrochromic devices where the coated substrate may be bent without unacceptable deterioration in its optical and electrical properties. Preferably, reflector-coated substrates constructed using multi-layer stacks, such as a glass/silicon/silicon dioxide/silicon stack (with or without additional undercoating or overcoating stack layers), may be deposited in-bath, on-line onto glass being manufactured on a float glass line.

It may also be advantageous to employ bendable reflector-coated substrates and techniques for manufacturing the same as taught by and described in the '760 application, and multi-layer stacks, such as the glass/silicon/silicon dioxide/silicon stack as described supra, with or without an additional overcoating of a substantially transparent conductive electrode coating such as fluorine-doped tin oxide and the like. Bendable coatings may be advantageous in minimizing manufacturing requirements since depositing a thin film of metal generally requires the steps of first bending the non-reflector coated substrate and then coating the bent substrate with the layer of reflective material.

As described supra, it may be advantageous to construct electrochromic mirrors whose reflective element 8 is located within the laminate assembly. This may be achieved by coating the inward surface of substrate 3 with a layer of reflective material 8, such as silver, so that the silver coating (along with any adhesion promoter layers 11) is protected from the outside environment. For example, a layer of reflective material 8 may be vacuum deposited onto the inward surface of substrate 3 in one and the same process step as the subsequent deposition of the electrochromic solid film 7 onto substrate 3. This construction and process for producing the same not only becomes more economical from a manufacturing standpoint, but also achieves high optical performance since uniformity of reflectance across the entire surface area of the mirror is enhanced. The thin film stack [which comprises the electrochromic solid film 7 (e.g., tungsten oxide), the layer of reflective material 8 (e.g., silver or aluminum) and any undercoat layers between the layer of reflective material 8 and substrate 3] should have a light reflectance within the range of at least about 70% to greater than about 80%, with a light transmission within the range of about 1% to about 20%. Preferably, the light transmission is within the range of about 3% to about 20%, and more preferably within the range of about 4% to about 8%, with a light reflectance greater than about 80%.

A light reflectance of at least 70% (preferably, at least 80%) for the reflective element to be used in an electrochromic mirror incorporating on demand displays is desirable so that the bleached (unpowered) reflectivity of the electrochromic mirror can be at least 55% (preferably, at least 65%) as measured using SAE J964a, which is the recommended procedure for measuring reflectivity of rearview mirrors for automobiles. Likewise, a transmission through the reflective element of, preferably, between about 1% to 20% transmission, but not much more than about 30% transmission, (measured using Illuminant A, a photopic detector, and at near normal incidence) is desirable so that emitting displays disposed behind the reflective element of the electrochromic mirror are adequately visible when powered, even by day but, when unpowered and not emitting, the displays (along with any other components, circuitry, backing members, case structures, wiring and the like) are not substantially distinguishable or visible to the driver and vehicle occupants.

With reference to FIGS. 9 and 10, emitting displays 14, such as vacuum fluorescent displays, light emitting diodes, gas discharge displays, plasma displays, cathode ray tubes, electroluminescent displays and the like may also be placed in contact with, or adhered to using an adhesive 17, 18 such as an epoxy, the rear of substrate 3. Generally, such emitting displays may only be observable when powered so as to emit light.

A variety of emitting displays 14 may be used in this connection including, but not limited to, double heterojunction AlGaAs very high intensity red LED lamps, such as those solid state light emitting display LED lamps which use double heterojunction Al/GaAs/GaAs material technology [commercially available from Hewlett Packard Corporation, Palo Alto, Calif. under the designation "T-13/4 (5 mm) HLMP-4100-4101"].

Alternatively, vacuum fluorescent displays, such as 12 V battery driven high luminance color vacuum fluorescent displays may be advantageously used [commercially available from Futaba Corporation of America, Schaumburg, Ill. under the designations S-2425G, S-24-24G, S-2396G and S2397G]. It may also be advantageous to use displays 14 that operate efficiently at about 12 V or lower since these voltages are particularly amenable to motor vehicles. Also, ultrahigh luminance vacuum fluorescent displays, suitable for heads-up-display applications in motor vehicles may be used with appropriate circuitry, such as Type 3-LT-10GX [commercially available from Futaba Corporation]. Suitable vacuum fluorescent displays are also commercially available from NEC Electronics Incorporated, Mountain View, Calif., such as under the designation Part No. FIP2QM8S.

It may also be desirable, particularly where the reflective element is at least partially light transmitting, to use a light absorbing means, such as a black-, brown- or blue-colored or other suitably colored absorbing coating, tape, paint, lacquer and the like, on portions of the rearmost (non-inward) surface of substrate 3 where displays are not mounted. It may be desirable to use substantially opaque, and preferably dark colored tape or plastic film and the like, across the surface of substrate 3, such as by adhering to protective material 20, preferably across substantially the entire rear surface, except where any displays are to be positioned. By so doing, any secondary images or aesthetically non-appealing mirror case illumination due to stray light emittance from the display may be reduced.

Placement of apertures or cutouts in a tape or film backing may expedite the assembly of such mirrors by guiding the assembler to the point where the desired display or displays is to be mounted. The tape or film backing may also serve as an anti-scatter means to enhance safety and prevent injury by retaining any glass shards which may result due to mirror breakage, for example caused by impact from an accident.

Suitably colored paints, inks, plastic films or the like may be applied to the surface of substrate 3 where the display 14 is to be placed to change or effect the color of the display. Also, the display 14 may be adhered to a surface of the substrate using an adhesive 18, such as an index matching adhesive 17, 18, that may be dyed to effect color and/or contrast enhancement in the display [see e.g., Larson, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference].

Generally, and particularly when the electrochromic element is in its bleached, uncolored state, it may be desirable for the image of the display--e.g., an information display, such as a compass display, a clock display, a hazard warning display or the like--to have a luminance within the range of at least about 30 foot lamberts to about 80 foot lamberts (preferably, within the range of at least about 40 foot lamberts to about 60 foot lamberts), as measured with the display placed behind, and emitting through, the electrochromic mirror and with the electrochromic element in its fully transmitting, bleached state. With this level of luminance, such a display may be read easily even with bright ambient levels of light. Also, the electronic circuitry taught by and described in Larson may be used to appropriately dim the display to suit nighttime driving conditions and/or to compensate for any dimming of the electrochromic element. Generally, at night the luminance of the display is about 15-40%, preferably about 20-35%, that of the daytime value.

During daytime lighting conditions, drivers of motor vehicles mounted with an electrochromic mirror (interior, exterior or both) benefit from relatively high reflectance (at least about 55%, with at least about 65% typically being preferred) when in the bleached "day" state. Any display positioned behind the electrochromic mirror should have a sufficiently high luminance to permit the display (which may be digital, alpha-numeric, analog or combinations thereof) to emit therethrough and be readable. The display 14 should be readable even when ambient conditions within the cabin of a motor vehicle (or outside, where electrochromic exterior rearview mirrors are used or where the electrochromic interior rearview mirror is mounted in a convertible with its top down) are bright, such as midday on a sunny, cloudless day. The mirrors of the present invention may achieve a light reflectance of at least about 55% for the high reflectance state where a high reflector in the form of a thin film metal coating is used with a sufficient thickness to allow for light to transmit through the electrochromic element 1, preferably within the range of about 1% to about 15% transmission, but not exceeding about 30% (as measured using Illuminant A and a photopic detector, with near normal incidence). More specifically, where silver is used as a high reflector, the mirrors of the present invention may achieve a light reflectance of at least about 65% for the high reflectance state with a light transmission therethrough within the range of about 1% to about 20% transmission (measured as described supra). The thin film metal coating may have a thickness within the range of about 200 Å to about 1,500 Å, preferably within the range of about 200 Å to about 750 Å.

It may also be desirable, particularly when used in conjunction with highly spectrally selective light emitting diodes and the like, to use PRM as a reflector placed between the display 14 and the rearmost (non-inward) surface of substrate 3. PRM is a spectrally selective, substantially reflecting (greater than about 50%) and significantly transparent polymer reflector material [see T. Alfrey, Jr. et al., "Physical Optics of Iridescent Multilayered Plastic Films", Polym. Eng'g. & Sci., 9(6), 400-04 (1969); W. Schrenk et al., "Coextruded Elastomeric Optical Interference Film", ANTEC '88, 1703-07 (1988); and see generally U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,711,176 (Alfrey, Jr.); 3,557,265 (Chisolm) and 3,565,985 (Schrenk). PRM is commercially available from Dow Chemical Co., Midland, Mich., such as under the designation PRM HU75218.03L, which is a 0.125" thick sheeting made of multiple polymer layers (e.g., 1305 layers), having differing refractive indices and transparent/transparent CAP layers. This PRM exhibits a light reflectance of about 58% and a generally neutral light transmittance. Another PRM, designated as PRM HU75218.08L, also is a 0.125" thick sheeting, made from multiple polymer layers (e.g., 1305 layers), with a light reflectance of about 58%. However, this PRM has transparent/red CAP layers which results in a transmission which has a distinctly red tint. As such, it may be particularly well-suited for use in conjunction with the mirrors of the present invention that employ in their construction red light emitting diodes, such as those typically employed in hazard warning devices.

An array of light emitting diodes may be positioned behind a window 13 in a mirror with an appropriately sized piece of PRM positioned between the emitting displays 14 and the rearmost (non-inward) surface of the substrate 3. By choosing a PRM with a selective transmission which permits the passage of the bandwidth of light emitted by the emitter but that substantially attenuates other wavelengths not within that bandpass of light, optical efficiency may be enhanced. Indeed, PRM itself may be an appropriate reflective element behind which display emitters may be disposed. While PRM may be vulnerable to scratching and susceptible to degradation from environmental exposure, substrates 2,3 offer desirable protection from such damage. Use of PRM where the piece of PRM is larger than and covers the window created in the reflective element on substrate 3 (but is smaller than the entire surface area of substrate 3) is particularly attractive compared to the use of conventional dichroic mirrors [such as thin film dielectric stack dichroic mirrors (commercially available from Optical Coatings Labs, Santa Rosa, Calif.)] as the reflective element because of economic benefits.

Should it be desirable to use a PRM/emitting display, a substrate with or without a thin film of metal reflector coating that is substantially transmitting may be positioned in front of the PRM. Suitable optical adhesives, preferably index matching adhesives as described supra, may be used to construct a mirror that comprises a light emitting element which emits light through a sheet of PRM, which is positioned behind a glass substrate through which the emitted light also passes. Such a mirror would appear reflective when the light emitting element (e.g., a red LED such as described supra) is unpowered, yet would efficiently display a warning indicia when the light emitting element is powered, strobed or flashed. Also, PRM being a polymer material is relatively easily formed by molding, slumping, bending and similar polymer forming methods, so conformance to a compound curvature or convex curvature is facilitated.

In that aspect of the present invention directed to exterior rearview mirrors for motor vehicles, it may be advantageous to use in conjunction therewith signal lights, security lights, flood lights, remote actuation and combinations thereof as taught by and described in commonly assigned co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/011,947, filed Feb. 1, 1993 ("the '947 application"), now U.S. Pat. No. 5,371,659, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference.

The electrochromic mirrors of the present invention may also include an anti-reflective means, such as an anti-reflective coating, on the front (non-inward) surface of the outermost or frontmost substrate as viewed by an observer (see e.g., Lynam V); an anti-static means, such as a conductive coating, particularly a substantially transparent conductive coating, such as ITO, tin oxide and the like; index matching means to reduce internal and interfacial reflections, such as thin films of an appropriately selected optical path length; and/or light absorbing glass, such as glass tinted to a neutral density, such as "GRAYLITE" gray tinted glass (commercially available from Pittsburgh Plate Glass Industries) and "SUNGLAS" gray tinted glass (commercially available from Ford Glass Co., Detroit, Mich.), which assists in augmenting contrast enhancement. Moreover, polymer interlayers, which may be tinted gray, such as those used in electrochromic devices as taught by and described in Lynam I, may be incorporated into the electrochromic mirrors described herein.

The mirrors of this present invention, particularly rearview mirrors intended for use on the exterior motor vehicles, may also benefit from an auxiliary heating means used in connection therewith such as those taught by and described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,151,824 (O'Farrell) and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 07/971,676, filed Nov. 4, 1992 ("the '676 application"), now U.S. Pat. No. 5,446,576, the disclosures of each of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference. Preferred among such heating means are positive temperature coefficient ("PTC") heater pads such as those commercially available from ITW Chromomatic, Chicago, Ill. These heater pads employ conductive polymers, such as a crystalline organic polymer or blend within which is dispersed a conductive filler like carbon black, graphite, a metal and a metal oxide, [see e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 4,882,466 (Friel)]. The heater pads exhibit a positive temperature coefficient; that is, their resistance increases when the surrounding temperature increases. Thus, the heater pads may be used as a self-regulating heating element.

If a display is to be mounted behind the reflective element, an appropriately sized and shaped aperture through the auxiliary heating means should be used to accommodate the display but not leave portions of the mirror unheated for de-icing or de-misting purposes. Likewise, should a heat distribution pad be used, such as an aluminum or copper foil as described in the '676 application, an appropriately sized and shaped aperture should also be provided therein to accommodate such displays. Where apertures are to be included in a PTC heater pad, a pattern of resistive electrodes which contact the conductive polymer, which may typically be applied by a silk-screening process as described in Friel, should be designed to accommodate the apertures in the pad. In addition, such a pattern may also be useful to thermally compensate for the apertures in the pad. Alternatively, the resistive electrode/conductive polymer combination may be applied, for example, directly onto the rearmost (non-inward) surface of substrate 3, or onto a heat distribution pad that is contacted and/or adhered thereto.

It may also be advantageous to provide mirrors in the form of a module, which module comprises the mirror itself and its electrical connection means (e.g., electrical leads); any heater pad (optionally, including a heat distribution pad) and associated electrical connection means; bezel frames; retaining members (e.g., a one-piece plate) and electrical connection means (see e.g., O'Farrell); actuators [e.g., Model No. H16-49-8001 (right-hand mirror) and Model No. H16-49-8051 (left-hand mirror), commercially available from Matsuyama, Kawoge City, Japan] or planetary-gear actuators [see e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 4,281,899 (Oskamo) and the '947 application, the disclosures of each of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference] or memory actuators that include memory control circuitry such as Small Electrical Actuator #966/001 which includes a 4 ear adjusting ring, 25 degree travel and an add-on memory control and is available from Industrie Koot B.V. (IKU) of Montfort, Netherlands; and brackets for mounting the module within the casing or housing of a mirror assembly such as taught by and described in the '947 application. Electrochromic mirrors may be assembled using these items to provide modules suitable for use with a mirror casing or housing that includes the electrochromic element, which incorporates the reflective element and any associated components such as heater means, bezel means, electrically or manually operable actuation means, mounting means and electrical connection means. These components may be preassembled into a module that is substantially sealed from the outside environment through the use of sealants like silicones, epoxies, epoxides, urethanes and the like. These components may also be formed and/or assembled in an integral molding process, such as with those processes described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,139,234 (Morgan) and 4,561,625 (Weaver), each of which describe suitable molding processes in the context of modular window encapsulation. An added-value electrochromic mirror module, including the actuators which allow adjustment and selection of reflector field of view when mounted within the outside mirror housings attached to the driver-side and passenger-side of a vehicle, may be pre-assembled and supplied to outside vehicular mirror housing manufacturers to facilitate ease and economy of manufacturing.

Many aspects of the present invention, particularly those relating to the use of PRM and emitting displays; glass cover sheets, foils and the like; and thin film metal coatings that are applied locally and that are substantially reflecting and partially transmitting, may of course be employed with non-electrochromic rearview mirrors for motor vehicles, such as conventional prismatic mirrors. For instance, with exterior rearview mirrors for motor vehicles, a driver-side rearview mirror and a passenger-side rearview mirror may be mounted in combination on a motor vehicle to be used to complement one another and enhance the driver's rearward field of view. One of such mirrors may be an electrochromic mirror and the other mirror may be a non-electrochromic mirror, such as a chromed-glass mirror, with both exterior mirrors benefitting from these aspects of the present invention. In addition, these aspects of the present invention may be employed in connection with a display window that has been established in a prismatic mirror.

Substrate 2 may be of a laminate assembly comprising at least two transparent panels affixed to one another by a substantially transparent adhesive material, such as an optical adhesive as described herein. This laminate assembly assists in reducing the scattering of glass shards from substrate 2 should the mirror assembly break due to impact. Likewise, substrates 2,3 may each be of such a laminate assembly in a glazing, window, sun roof, display device, contrast filter and the like.

It is clear from the teaching herein that should a glazing, window, sun roof, display device, contrast filter and the like be desirably constructed, the reflective element 8 need only be omitted from the assembled construction so that the light which is transmitted through the transparent substrate is not further assisted in reflecting back therethrough.

In the aspects of the present invention concerning electrochromic devices, particularly electrochromic optical attenuating contrast filters, such contrast filters may be an integral part of an electrochromic device or may be affixed to an already constructed device, such as cathode ray tube monitors. For instance, an optical attenuating contrast filter may be manufactured using an electrochromic element as described herein and then affixing it to a device, using a suitable optical adhesive. In such contrast filters, the constituents of the electrochromic element should be chosen so that the contrast filter may color to a suitable level upon the introduction of an applied potential thereto, and no undesirable spectral bias is exhibited.

Many aspects of the present invention, especially those concerning mirror construction, use of elemental semiconductor layers or stacks (with or without an additional undercoat of silicon dioxide and/or an overcoat of doped tin oxide), PRM, localized thin film coatings, cover sheets and on demand displays, may of course be incorporated into electrochromic mirrors and electrochromic devices that employ electrochromic technology for the electrochromic element different from that which is taught and described herein, such as electrochromic solution technology of the electrochemichromic type (e.g., Byker I, Byker II, Varaprasad I and Varaprasad III) and electrochromic solid film technology (e.g., the '675 application, the '557 application and Lynam I), including electrochromic organic thin film technology, in which a thin film of organic electrochromic material such as a polymerized viologen is employed in the electrochromic element [see e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 4,473,693 (Wrighton)].

Once constructed, the electrochromic device, such as an electrochromic mirror, may have a molded casing or housing placed therearound. This molded casing or housing may be pre-formed and then placed about the periphery of the assembly or, for that matter, injection molded therearound using conventional techniques, including injection molding of thermoplastic materials, such as polyvinyl chloride or polypropylene, or reaction injection molding of thermosetting materials, such as polyurethane or other thermosets. These techniques are well-known in the art [see e.g., Morgan and Weaver, respectively].

Each of the documents cited herein is hereby incorporated by reference to the same extent as if each document had individually been incorporated by reference.

In view of the above description of the instant invention, it is evident that a wide range of practical opportunities is provided by the teaching herein. The following examples of electrochromic mirrors and electrochromic devices are provided to illustrate the utility of the present invention only and are not to be construed so as to limit in any way the teaching herein.

EXAMPLESExample 1

An electrochromic interior rearview automotive mirror cell having a shape commonly used for interior rearview mirrors was constructed from clear HW-ITO-coated glass as the first substrate (having a sheet resistance of about 12 ohms per square), with a tungsten oxide electrochromic solid film coated over its HW-ITO coating (which is coated onto the inward surface of the substrate). As the second substrate of the mirror cell, a HW-ITO-coated glass substrate (also having a sheet resistance of about 12 ohms per square) with the ITO coated onto its inward surface was used. A reflective element was formed by coating a layer of silver onto the rearmost (opposite, non-inward) surface of the second substrate of the mirror cell. The HW-ITO was coated onto the glass substrates at a thickness of about 1,500 Å; the tungsten oxide electrochromic solid film was coated over the HW-ITO coating of the first substrate at a thickness of about 5,000 Å; and the silver was coated onto the rearmost surface of the second substrate using conventional wet chemical silver line deposition as known in the mirror art. The first substrate was positioned in spaced-apart relationship with the second substrate to form a 88 μm interpane spacing between the coated inward surfaces of the substrates. The first substrate was also laterally displaced from the second substrate to provide a convenient area for bus bar attachment.

We dispensed the electrolyte described above into the mirror cell by the vacuum backfilling method [as described in Varaprasad IV].

Upon application of about 1.4 volts, we observed that the mirror dimmed uniformly and rapidly to a neutral gray colored state. Specifically, we observed that the mirror dimmed from about 70% reflectance to about 20% reflectance in a response time of about 3.2 seconds. In addition, we observed that the mirror exhibited a high reflectance in the unpowered, bleached state of about 74.7% and a low reflectance in the dimmed state of about 5.9%

We made and recorded these observations following the standard procedure J964A of the Society of Automotive Engineers, using a reflectometer--set in reflectance mode--equipped with a light source (known in the art as Standard Illuminant A) and a photopic detector assembly.

Spectral scans were recorded using a conventional spectrophotometer operating in reflection mode in both the bleached state [see FIG. 1 and Tables I(a) and I(b)] and the colored state at an applied potential of about 1.5 volts [see FIG. 2 and Tables II(a) and II(b)].

After subjecting this mirror to such cycling conditions, we observed the reflectance of the mirror to decrease from about 70% to about 20% in a response time of about 3.2 seconds. In addition, we observed the mirror to have a high reflectance in the unpowered, bleached state of about 78.6% and a low reflectance in the dimmed state of about 6.4% when a potential of 1.4 volts was applied thereto. We made and recorded these observations using the SAE procedure referred to supra.

We observed that these mirrors exhibited excellent stability to temperature extremes. For example, after storage at temperatures in the 80° C.-110° C. range, for periods ranging from about 2 hours to in excess of 336 hours, performance remained excellent, and, indeed, in aspects such as transition times from low to high reflectance states performance was even better after heat exposure.

Example 2

In this example, we used the same electrolyte formulation and an electrochromic mirror constructed in the same manner as in Example 1, supra.

We introduced an applied potential of about 1.4 volts to the mirror and observed its center portion to change from a high reflectance of about 75.9% to a low reflectance of about 6.3%, which decreased from about 70% reflectance to about 20% reflectance in a response time of about 3.5 seconds.

We then subjected this mirror to an accelerated simulation of outdoor weathering conditions to investigate its resilience and stability to ultraviolet light. Specifically, we subjected the mirror to about 1300 KJ/m2 of ultraviolet exposure in an Atlas Ci35A Xenon Weather-o-meter (Atlas Electric Devices Company, Chicago, Ill.), equipped with a Xenon lamp emitting about 0.55 w/m2 intensity at about 340 nm. After accelerated outdoor weathering, we observed that the mirror continued to function suitably for use in a motor vehicle. We also observed that the mirror cycled well. In addition, we observed the high reflectance to be about 75.2% and the low reflectance to be about 6.9% when a potential of about 1.4 volts was applied thereto.

We made and recorded these observations using the SAE procedure referred to in Example 1, supra.

Example 3

The electrochromic mirror cell of this example was constructed from clear HW ITO-coated glass as the first substrate as in Example 1, supra. However, the second substrate was constructed of ordinary soda-lime glass. Using electron beam evaporation in a vacuum chamber, a layer of chromium was coated directly onto the inward surface of the second glass substrate as an adhesion promoter. Next, and without breaking vacuum, a thin film of silver was coated onto the layer of chromium as a reflective element, and thereafter (again without breaking vacuum) tungsten oxide was coated over the layer of silver as an electrochromic solid film. The layer of chromium was coated onto the second substrate at a thickness of about 1,000 Å; the thin film of silver was coated over the chromium at a thickness of about 1,000 Å; and the tungsten oxide was coated over the silver at a thickness of about 5,000 Å. The sheet resistance of the silver so undercoated with chromium was about 0.4 to 0.5 ohms per square. As with the mirror cell of Example 1, supra, the first substrate was positioned in spaced-apart relationship with the second substrate to form an 88 μm interpane spacing between the coated inward surfaces of the substrates. The first substrate was laterally displaced from the second substrate to provide a convenient area for bus bar attachment.

We used the electrolyte of Example 1, supra, and dispensed it into the mirror cell using the vacuum backfilling method [as described in Varaprasad IV].

We introduced an applied potential of about 1.4 volts to the mirror and observed the change from a high reflectance of about 81.6% to a low reflectance of about 5.9%, which decreased from about 70% reflectance to about 20l% reflectance in a response time of about 1.9 seconds.

We made and recorded these observations using the SAE procedure referred to in Example 1, supra.

After subjecting the mirror to such cycling conditions, we observed the reflectance of the mirror in the unpowered, bleached state to be about 77.3%, and the mirror dimmed to 6.2% reflectance with 1.4 volts applied thereto.

Example 4

We used an electrochromic mirror cell constructed in the same format and with the same shape and dimensions as in Example 1, supra, except that a tungsten oxide electrochromic solid film (having a thickness of about 5,000 Å) was coated over the HW-ITO coating on the inward surface of the second substrate.

We formulated an electrolyte containing ferrocene (about 0.025M), phenothiazine (about 0.05M), lithium perchlorate (about 0.05M) and "UVINUL" 400 [about 10% (w/v)] in a solvent combination of tetramethylene sulfone and propylene carbonate [in a ratio of about 25:75 (v/v)]. We dispensed the electrolyte into the mirror cell using the vacuum backfilling method [as described in Varaprasad IV].

Upon introduction of an applied potential of about 1.4 volts, we observed the mirror to dim uniformly and rapidly to a neutral gray colored state. Specifically, we observed the mirror to have a high reflectance in the unpowered, bleached state of about 70.7% and a low reflectance in the dimmed state of about 7.3%. We made and recorded these observations using the SAE procedure referred to in Example 1, supra.

We also cycled the mirror and subjected the mirror to an accelerated simulation of outdoor weathering conditions to investigate its resilience and stability to ultraviolet light as described in Example 2, supra, but at an exposure of about over 2,500 KJ/m2. We observed that the mirror cycled well, and after accelerated outdoor weathering, we also observed that the mirror continued to function in a manner suitable for use in a motor vehicle.

Example 5

In this example, we fabricated an electrochromic glazing cell of a construction suitable for use as a window or a sun roof for a motor vehicle. The glazing cell was dimensioned to about 15 cm×about 15 cm, with an interpane spacing between the tungsten oxide coating on the inward surface of the second substrate and the HW-ITO coating on the inward surface of the first substrate of about 105 μm.

The glazing cell was constructed using spacers to assist in defining the interpane spacing. The spacers were sprinkled over the tungsten oxide-coated surface of the first substrate and, inward from the peripheral edge of the HW-ITO-coated second substrate, an epoxy was applied using a silk-screening technique. While the epoxy was still uncured, the first substrate and the second substrate were off-set from one another by a lateral displacement and a perpendicular displacement. The epoxy was then cured into a seal for the electrochromic glazing cell using a vacuum bagging technique (as is known in the laminating art) at a reduced atmospheric pressure of about 10" of mercury and a temperature of about 110° C. for a period of time of about 2 hours in order to achieve substantially even pressure while curing the epoxy into a seal.

We formulated an electrolyte containing ferrocene (about 0.015M), phenothiazine (about 0.06M), lithium perchlorate (about 0.05M) and "UVINUL" 400 [about 5% (w/v)] in a solvent combination of tetramethylene sulfone and propylene carbonate [in a ratio of about 50:50 (v/v)]. We dispensed this electrolyte into the electrochromic glazing cell using the vacuum backfilling method [as described in Varaprasad IV].

Upon introduction of an applied potential of about 1.4 volts to the electrochromic glazing, we observed the transmissivity change from a high transmittance of about 78.6% to a low transmittance of about 12.9%.

We made and recorded these observations using the SAE procedure referred to in Example 1, supra, except that the reflectometer was set in transmittance mode.

Example 6

In this example, we constructed an electrochromic mirror suitable for use as an exterior rearview mirror for a motor vehicle.

The mirror was constructed from clear HW-ITO-coated glass as the first substrate as in Example 1, supra.

However, as the second substrate we used ordinary soda-lime glass. Both substrates were sized and shaped to dimensions of 9.5 cm×15 cm. A notch was cut in one edge of the first substrate, and another notch was cut in a different location on one edge of the second substrate. A bus bar was formed along the edges of the first substrate by silk-screening a silver conductive frit material [#7713 (Du Pont)] all around the perimetal region of the HW-ITO-coated surface of the substrate to a width of about 2.5 mm, and then firing the frit at an elevated temperature in a reducing atmosphere to avoid oxidizing the HW-ITO.

A layer of chromium at a thickness of about 1,000 Å was coated directly by vacuum deposition onto the inward surface of the second glass substrate as an adhesion promoter. Thereafter, without breaking vacuum, a thin film of silver at a thickness of about 1,000 Å was coated onto the layer of chromium as a reflective element, and tungsten oxide at a thickness of about 5,000 Å was then coated (again, without breaking vacuum) over the layer of silver as an electrochromic solid film. The first substrate and the second substrate were then positioned in spaced-apart relationship so that the edges of the substrates were flush, and a seal was applied so as to form a cavity between the two substrates. In this flush design, the interpane spacing between the coated inward surfaces of the substrates was 88 μm.

For this exterior mirror, we formulated an electrolyte containing ferrocene (about 0.025M), phenothiazine (about 0.06M), lithium tetrafluoroborate (about 0.05M) and "UVINUL" 400 [about 5% (w/v)] in propylene carbonate. We dispensed this electrolyte into the mirror cell using the vacuum backfilling method described in Varaprasad IV].

Electrical leads were then attached to the mirror. The notch on the second substrate permitted an electrical lead to be attached at a point contact on the silver frit bus bar formed around and substantially circumscribing the perimeter of the HW-ITO-coated inward surface of the first substrate. Another electrical lead was attached to the portion of the chromium/silver/tungsten oxide coating on the inward surface of the second substrate exposed by the notch cut in the first substrate. The point contact was sufficient to apply a potential across the electrodes because of the low sheet resistance of the coating on the inward surface of the second substrate.

Upon introduction of an applied potential of about 1.5 volts to the mirror, we observed the reflectance change from a high reflectance of about 77.5% to a low reflectance of about 10.6%.

We also cycled the mirror for about 50,000 cycles at a temperature of about 50° C., and observed that the mirror cycled well and continued to function suitably for use in a motor vehicle.

Example 7

In this example, we used the same electrolyte formulation and an electrochromic mirror cell of the same shape as described in Example 1, supra. After filling the electrochromic mirror cell using the vacuum backfilling method [as described in Varaprasad IV], we removed the tungsten oxide coating from the peripheral edge of the first substrate using a dilute basic solution of potassium hydroxide followed by water. We then connected the bus bars to this newly-exposed ITO surface. Thereafter we applied a secondary weather barrier material. The secondary weather barrier material was formed from "ENVIBAR" UV 1244T ultraviolet curable epoxy, with about 2% of the silane coupling agent A-186 (OSi Specialties Inc., Danbury, Conn.) combined with about 1% of the photoinitiator "CYRACURE" UVI-6990. Thereafter, we cured this material by exposing it to a suitable source of ultraviolet light to form a secondary weather barrier.

Once the secondary weather barrier was formed, we introduced an applied potential of about 1.3 volts to the mirror and observed the reflectance change from a high reflectance of about 77.8% to a low reflectance of about 7.1%.

We made and recorded these observations using the SAE procedure referred to in Example 1, supra.

We also mounted this electrochromic mirror in the cabin of a motor vehicle and found the mirror to operate in a commercially acceptable manner.

Example 8

We used an electrochromic mirror cell having the same shape as described in Example 1, supra, constructed from clear ITO-coated glass as the first substrate (having a sheet resistance of about 80 ohms per square). As the second substrate of the mirror cell, we used ordinary soda-lime glass. The first substrate was dimensioned about 2 to about 3 mm larger in both length and width than the second substrate. A layer of chromium, as an adhesion promoter, was coated directly onto the inward surface of the second glass substrate at a thickness of about 1,000 Å. A thin film of silver, as a reflective element, was thereafter coated onto the layer of chromium at a thickness of about 1,000 Å and tungsten oxide, as an electrochromic solid film, was then coated over the layer of silver at a thickness of about 5,000 Å. These thin films were coated in a vacuum deposition process by electron beam evaporation and were deposited in a unitary deposition process without breaking vacuum during deposition of the chromium/silver/tungsten oxide stack.

The first substrate and the second substrate were positioned in spaced-apart relationship to form a 88 μm interpane spacing between the ITO-coated surface of the first substrate and the multi-layered surface of the second substrate. The size and shape differential between the first substrate and the second substrate allowed the ITO-coated surface of the first substrate to extend beyond the multi-layered surface of the second substrate. Bus bars were attached substantially all around the peripheral edge of the ITO-coated first substrate onto which were connected the electrical leads. On the multi-layered second substrate, we attached electrical leads at a smaller portion thereof, such as at a mere point contact.

We formulated an electrolyte containing ferrocene (about 0.015M), phenothiazine (about 0.06M), lithium perchlorate (about 0.05M) and "UVINUL" 400 [about 5% (w/v)] in a solvent combination of tetramethylene sulfone and propylene carbonate [in a ratio of about 50:50 (v/v)]. We dispensed this electrolyte into the mirror cell using the vacuum backfilling method [as described in Varaprasad IV].

Upon introduction of an applied potential of about 1.4 volts, we observed the mirror to dim uniformly and rapidly to a neutral gray colored state. Specifically, we observed the mirror to have a high reflectance in the unpowered, bleached state of about 75.8% and a low reflectance in the dimmed state of about 9.5%. We made and recorded these observations using the SAE procedure referred to in Example 1, supra.

Example 9

In this example, we used the electrolyte formulation and an electrochromic mirror having the same shape as described in Example 8, supra. However, the mirror of this example was constructed from ITO-coated glass as the first substrate having a sheet resistance of about 55 ohms per squares. In addition, the first substrate and the second substrate were positioned in spaced-apart relationship to form a 63 μm interpane spacing between the ITO-coated surface of the first substrate and multi-layered surface of the second substrate.

After dispensing the electrolyte into the mirror cell using the vacuum backfilling method [as described in Varaprasad IV], we observed the mirror to have a high reflectance of about 75.7% and a low reflectance of about 8.6% when a potential of about 1.4 volts was applied thereto. We made and recorded these observations using the SAE procedure referred to in Example 1, supra.

Example 10

In this example, we fabricated an electrochromic glazing device of a construction suitable for use as a window or a sun roof on a motor vehicle containing a solid electrolyte. The glazing device was dimensioned to about 15 cm×about 15 cm, with an interpane spacing between the tungsten oxide coating on the inward surface of the first substrate and the HW-ITO coating on the inward surface of the second substrate of about 74 μm.

The glazing device was constructed using spacers to assist in defining the interpane spacing. The spacers were sprinkled over the tungsten oxide coated surface of the first substrate and an epoxy was applied inward from the peripheral edge of the HW-ITO coated second substrate using a silk-screening technique. While the epoxy was still uncured, the first substrate and the second substrate were off-set from one another by a lateral displacement and a perpendicular displacement. The weather barrier of the electrochromic glazing device was then formed by thermal curing using a vacuum bagging technique (as is known in the laminating art) at a reduced atmospheric pressure of about 10" of mercury and a temperature of about 140° C. for a period of time of about 1 hour in order to maintain a substantially even pressure when curing the epoxy into a weather barrier.

We then in situ polymerized the formulation by exposing it to ultraviolet radiation to form a solid-phase electrolyte.

We then affixed bus bars along the peripheral edges of the electrochromic glazing device, and connected electrical leads to the bus bars.

We introduced an applied potential of about 1.5 volts to the electrochromic glazing for a period of time of about 2 minutes, with the positive polarity applied at the second substrate (the surface of which having tungsten oxide overcoated onto its HW-ITO-coated surface) and observed it to have a high transmittance of about 73.0%. Thereafter, we reversed the polarity, and observed the transmission to dim to a low transmittance of about 17.8% when a potential of about 1.5 volts was applied thereto.

We made and recorded these observations using the SAE procedure referred to in Example 1, supra, except that the reflectometer was set in transmittance mode.

Example 11

In this example, we constructed an electrochromic mirror device having the same shape described in Example 1, supra, with an interpane spacing of about 74 μm and using a solid-phase electrolyte.

The mirror was constructed using spacers to assist in defining the interpane spacing. The spacers were sprinkled over the HW-ITO coated inward surface of the first substrate (whose opposite, non-inward surface had been coated with a layer of silver using conventional wet chemical silver line deposition) and the formulation, which would be transformed into a solid-phase electrolyte, was dispensed thereover. The second substrate, whose inward surface was coated with tungsten oxide at a thickness of about 5,000 Å, was positioned over the spacer-sprinkled HW-ITO coated surface of the first substrate to allow the formulation to spread evenly across and between the coated surfaces of the first substrate and the second substrate.

We temporarily held the first substrate and the second substrate together using clamps and in situ polymerized the formulation located therebetween through exposure to ultraviolet radiation to form a solid-phase electrolyte. Specifically, we placed the mirror onto the conveyor belt of a Fusion UV Curing System F-450 B, with the belt advancing at a rate of about fifteen feet per minute and being subjected to ultraviolet radiation generated by the D fusion lamp of the F-450 B. We passed the mirror under the fusion lamp fifteen times pausing for two minute intervals between every fifth pass.

We then affixed bus bars along the peripheral edges of the device, and attached electrical leads to the bus bars.

We introduced an applied potential of about 1.5 volts to the electrochromic mirror for a period of time of about 2 minutes, with the positive polarity applied at the second substrate (the surface of which having tungsten oxide overcoated onto its HW-ITO-coated surface) and observed it to have a high reflectance of about 73.2%. Thereafter, we reversed the polarity, and observed the reflection to dim to a low reflectance of about 7.1% when a potential of about 1.5 volts was applied thereto.

We made and recorded these observations using the SAE procedure referred to in Example 1, supra.

Example 12

In this example, we constructed an electrochromic mirror cell having the same shape described in Example 4, supra.

We formulated an electrolyte containing ferrocene (about 0.025M), phenothiazine (about 0.06M), lithium perchlorate (about 0.05M) and "UVINUL" 400 [about 5% (w/v)] in a solvent combination of 1,2-butylene carbonate and propylene carbonate [in a ratio of about 50:50 (v/v)]. We dispensed this electrolyte into the mirror cell using the vacuum backfilling method [as described in Varaprasad IV].

Upon introduction of an applied potential of about 1.4 volts to the mirror, we observed the high reflectance change from about 72.0% to a low reflectance of about 6.8%.

We also cycled the mirror for about 50,000 cycles at a temperature of about 50° C., and observed it to cycle well.

Example 13

In this example, we again constructed an electrochromic mirror cell having the same shape described in Example 1, supra.

In this example, we constructed an electrochromic mirror cell having the same shape described in Example 1, supra, with an on demand display. For illustrative purposes, see FIG. 9.

To provide the on demand display to this mirror cell, a display window (with dimensions of about 7/16"×3/4") was laser-etched through an overcoating of silver/copper/paint on the rearmost (opposite, non-inward) surface of the second substrate of the mirror cell.

Over and within the display window, we applied an optical adhesive ["IMPRUV" LV potting compound (commercially available from Loctite Corporation, Newington, Conn.)] so that a glass cover sheet, having a thickness of about 0.075", may be disposed over and affixed thereto.

The glass cover sheets suitable for use in this context were prepared by previously exposing a larger glass sheet to a vacuum evaporation process in which a thin film layer of silver was coated onto one of its surfaces. The thin film layer of silver was substantially reflecting (having a reflectance of about 93%) and partially transmitting (having a transmittance of about 5%). The silver-coated glass cover sheet was then cut to size--e.g., about 1"×3/4"--, and the silvered-surface disposed over, and affixed to using the optical adhesive, the display window. Over the opposite, non-silvered surface of the glass cover sheet, we placed a layer of epoxy [UV15-74RI (commercially available from Master Bond Incorporated, Hackensack, N.J.)] and affixed thereto a vacuum fluorescent display [Part No. FIP2QM8S (NEC Electronics Incorporated, Mountain View, Calif.)].

Into this mirror cell, we dispensed the electrolyte of Example 1, supra.

Example 15

In this example, we constructed an electrochromic mirror cell having the same shape described in Example 1, supra, with an on demand display. For illustrative purposes, see FIG. 10.

In this mirror cell, like the mirror cell of Example 14, supra, a display window (with dimensions of about 7/16"×3/4") was laser-etched through the silver/copper/paint overcoating of the rearmost (opposite, non-inward) surface of the second substrate of the mirror cell.

A thin film layer of silver was then coated over the display window so formed by electron beam evaporation in a vacuum chamber as described supra. The thin film layer of silver was substantially reflecting (having a reflectance of about 90%) and partially transmitting (having a transmittance of about 8%).

Over and within the silvered-display window, we applied a layer of epoxy [UV15-74RI (Master Bond)] and affixed thereto a vacuum fluorescent display [Part No. FIP2QM8S (NEC Electronics)].

Into this mirror cell, we dispensed the electrolyte of Example 1, supra.

Example 16

In this example, we constructed an electrochromic mirror cell using as the first substrate and second substrate clear HW-ITO-coated glass. Over the inward surface of the second substrate, we coated a layer of chromium at a thickness of about 100 Å as an adhesion promoter. We then coated a thin film of silver at a thickness of about 450 Å onto the layer of chromium as a reflective element, and a layer of tungsten oxide at a thickness of about 5,800 Å over the layer of silver as an electrochromic solid film. The first substrate and the second substrate were positioned in spaced-apart relationship to form an 88 μm interpane spacing between the coated inward surfaces of the substrates.

We placed an opaque tape on the rearmost surface of the second substrate with apertures provided therein at appropriate locations to accommodate vacuum fluorescent displays and other information indicia.

A vacuum fluorescent display was affixed to this mirror cell as described in Example 14, supra, but dispensing with the reflector coated cover sheet. The display provided compass directional information and, dependent on the vehicle direction when driving, displayed N, NE, E, SE, S, SW, W or NW when any one of which coordinates was activated by compass circuitry included in the mirror housing and assembly into which the electrochromic mirror element was mounted for driving in a vehicle, and such as described in commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 5,255,442 (Schierbeek). Turn signal indicia [JKL NEO-Wedge Lamps T2-1/4 (commercially available from JKL Components Corporation, Paloina, Calif.)] were also located behind the rearmost surface of the second substrate, with appropriately shaped apertures cut into the opaque tape at the location of the turn signal indicia. The turn signal indicia was activated through a triggering mechanism from the particular turn signal. For an illustration of the use of turn signal indicia 21 in an electrochromic mirror, see FIG. 12.

Into this mirror cell, we dispensed the electrolyte of Example 1, supra.

Upon introduction of an applied potential of about 1.4 volts to the mirror, we observed the high reflectance to change from about 74.1% to a low reflectance of about 7.0%. We also observed the transmittance to be about 4.5% in the clear state.

This mirror was installed in a vehicle and tested under a variety of actual day and night driving conditions, and was found to operate for its intended purpose.

Example 17

In this example, we constructed an electrochromic mirror suitable for use as an interior rearview mirror for a motor vehicle.

The mirror was constructed from clear ITO-coated glass as the first substrate (having a sheet resistance of about 80 ohms per square). As the second substrate of the mirror cell we used ordinary soda-lime glass. Both substrates were sized and shaped to identical dimensions. A notch was cut in the middle of the top edge of the first substrate and another notch was cut in the middle of the bottom edge of the second substrate. A thin metal film busbar was formed along the edges of the first substrate by first affixing a mask over the central region leaving most of the perimeter region unmasked, and then depositing by a vacuum evaporation process a thin film of chromium having a thickness of about 2000 Å followed by a thin film of silver having a thickness of about 5000 Å.

A layer of chromium at a thickness of about 1000 Å was coated directly onto the inward surface of the second glass substrate as an adhesion promoter. A thin film of silver at a thickness of about 1000 Å was then deposited onto the layer of chromium as a reflective element and tungsten oxide at a thickness of about 5000 Å was then coated over the layer of silver as an electochromic solid film.

The first substrate and the second substrate were then positioned in a spaced-apart relationship so that the edges of the substrates were flush and a seal was applied to form a cavity between the substrates. In this flush design, the interpane spacing between the coated inward surfaces of the substrates was 88 μm.

For this flush design interior mirror, we formulated an electrolyte as in Example 1, supra. We dispensed this electrolyte into the mirror cell using the vacuum backfilling method [as described in Varaprasad I].

Electrical leads were then attached to the mirror. The notch in the second substrate permitted an electrical lead to be attached at a point contact on the thin metal film busbar on the bottom edge of the first substrate. Similarly, the notch in the first substrate caused a portion of the top edge of the inward surface of the second substrate to be exposed, permitting an electrical lead to be attached at a point contact on the chromium/silver/tungsten oxide coating.

Upon introduction of an applied potential of about 1.5 volts to the mirror, we observed a reflectance change from a high reflectance of about 85.3% to a low reflectance of about 7.5%.

These examples are provided for illustrative purposes only, and it will be clear to those of ordinary skill in the art that changes and modifications may be practiced within the spirit of the claims which define the scope of the present invention. Thus, the art-skilled will recognize or readily ascertain using no more than routine experimentation, that equivalents exist to the embodiments of the invention described herein. And, it is intended that such equivalents be encompassed by the claims which follow hereinafter.